hallucinate

[ huh-loo-suh-neyt ]

verb (used without object)

, hal·lu·ci·nat·ed, hal·lu·ci·nat·ing.

1. to see or hear things that do not exist outside the mind; have hallucinations:

   People who ingested this fungus often hallucinated, seeing colored lights or hearing voices.

2. Computers, Digital Technology. (of a machine learning program) to produce false information contrary to the intent of the user and present it as if true and factual.

verb (used with object)

, hal·lu·ci·nat·ed, hal·lu·ci·nat·ing.

1. to see or hear (things that do not exist outside the mind); have hallucinations about:

   In dramatic moments, the character hallucinates a very funny animated bear.

2. Archaic. to affect with hallucinations.

hallucinate

/ həˈluːsɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. intr to experience hallucinations

Derived Forms

• halˈluciˌnator, noun

Other Words From

• hal·lu·ci·na·tor noun
• non·hal·lu·ci·nat·ed adjective
• un·hal·lu·ci·nat·ed adjective
• un·hal·lu·ci·nat·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hallucinate¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin hallūcinātus “wandered mentally” past participle of hallūcinārī, variant of (h)ālūcinārī “to dream, talk idly, wander mentally”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hallucinate¹

C17: from Latin ālūcinārī to wander in mind; compare Greek aluein to be distraught

Example Sentences

You could even say that we’re all hallucinating all the time.

From MIT Technology Review

That weekend, she started hallucinating, a symptom of her fever and lowered oxygen levels.

From ProPublica

Maki continues to hallucinate and babble about his favorite football players, or a scene from a Batman movie, said Reed, his father.

From Washington Post

I’m convinced he’s hallucinating, but then I see them, too, telephone lines looping from the rim toward the corridor trails.

From Washington Post

I picked up a fancy chicken from the farmers market and thought I was hallucinating when I saw the $37 price tag.

From Eater

The episode then dives into A Christmas Carol territory as Oliver starts to hallucinate.

From The Daily Beast

One night, while looking in the mirror he began to hallucinate that he could not see his flesh or his bones.

From The Daily Beast

A placard that is to have effect at some distance must be in glaring colours; pathos calls for images that hallucinate.

From Project Gutenberg

I recognise no obligation to reason with such hallucinate mortals; I simply treat them with ridicule.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• daydream
• fantasize
• freak out