imitate

[ im-i-teyt ]

verb (used with object)

, im·i·tat·ed, im·i·tat·ing.

1. to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example:

   to imitate an author's style; to imitate an older brother.

2. to mimic; impersonate:

   The students imitated the teacher behind her back.

   Synonyms: mock, ape

3. to make a copy of; reproduce closely.
4. to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble.

imitate

/ ˈɪmɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to try to follow the manner, style, character, etc, of or take as a model

   many writers imitated the language of Shakespeare

2. to pretend to be or to impersonate, esp for humour; mimic
3. to make a copy or reproduction of; duplicate; counterfeit
4. to make or be like; resemble or simulate

   her achievements in politics imitated her earlier successes in business

Derived Forms

• ˌimitaˈbility, noun
• ˈimiˌtator, noun
• ˈimitable, adjective

Other Words From

• imi·tator noun
• non·imi·tating adjective
• over·imi·tate verb (used with object) overimitated overimitating
• pre·imi·tate verb (used with object) preimitated preimitating
• un·imi·tated adjective
• un·imi·tating adjective
• well-imi·tated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imitate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin imitātus, past participle of imitārī “to copy,” presumably a frequentative akin to the base of imāgō image

Word History and Origins

Origin of imitate¹

C16: from Latin imitārī; see image

Synonym Study

Imitate, copy, duplicate, reproduce all mean to follow or try to follow an example or pattern. Imitate is the general word for the idea: to imitate someone's handwriting, behavior. To copy is to make a fairly exact imitation of an original creation: to copy a sentence, a dress, a picture. To duplicate is to produce something that exactly resembles or corresponds to something else; both may be originals: to duplicate the terms of two contracts. To reproduce is to make a likeness or reconstruction of an original: to reproduce a 16th-century theater.

Related Words

• act like
• ape
• assume
• duplicate
• echo
• emulate
• impersonate
• mimic
• mirror
• mock
• pretend
• replicate
• reproduce
• resemble
• simulate