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

If we’re hallucinating, we may not be hallucinating exactly the same thing.

From Salon

Updates to Whisper in late 2023 improved its performance, the researchers said, but the updated Whisper “still regularly and reproducibly hallucinated.”

From Los Angeles Times

After reporting that he was hallucinating and had looked for — and located — a gun in his mother’s home, Aiden was hospitalized for about a week.

From Los Angeles Times

The government is currently evaluating generative AI for use in the NHS - one issue is that it can sometimes "hallucinate" and generate content that is not substantiated.

From BBC

Some machine-learning approaches employ generative AI models that try to guess what lies in the occluded regions, but these models can hallucinate objects that aren't really there.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• daydream
• fantasize
• freak out