conceive
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to form (a notion, opinion, purpose, etc.).
He conceived the project while he was on vacation.
-
to form a notion or idea of; imagine.
-
to hold as an opinion; think; believe.
I can't conceive that it would be of any use.
-
to experience or form (a feeling).
to conceive a great love for music.
-
to express, as in words.
-
to become pregnant with.
-
to beget.
-
to begin, originate, or found (something) in a particular way (usually used in the passive).
a new nation conceived in liberty.
-
Archaic. to understand; comprehend.
verb (used without object)
-
to form an idea; think (usually followed byof ).
-
to become pregnant.
verb
-
to have an idea (of); imagine; think
-
(tr; takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to hold as an opinion; believe
-
(tr) to develop or form, esp in the mind
she conceived a passion for music
-
to become pregnant with (young)
-
rare (tr) to express in words
Related Words
See imagine.
Other Word Forms
- conceiver noun
- nonconceiving noun
- reconceive verb
Etymology
Origin of conceive
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English from Anglo-French, Old French conceivre, from Latin concipere “to take fully, take in,” equivalent to con- con- + -cipere, combining form of capere “to take”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Asiya Dawood, 42, who's British-Pakistani and lives in West London, says in some South Asian communities, women who don't conceive quickly after marriage "get so many comments".
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
Back then, nobody could conceive of humankind being connected by machines that also facilitated our disconnection from each other.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
“Undoubtedly, AI will usher in new tasks and occupations, many of which are impossible for us to conceive of today,” the Fed’s Cook said.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 1, 2026
She’s learned to conceive her pieces considering that in his movies real water, mud, snow and fake blood might be in play.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
He could not stand here forever while night came on, yet he could scarcely conceive of going home to face Gebu empty-handed.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
