Imitate Meaning
/ˈɪmɪteɪt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo follow as a model or a pattern; to make a copy, counterpart or semblance of.
Sentence Examples
Tom can imitate the singer to a hair.
Just imitate what he does.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Young children often ____ the actions and words of their parents without reasoning.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Some birds are very talented and can ____ the sounds of other animals and even humans.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin imitātus, perfect active participle of imitor (“to copy, portray, imitate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French imiter.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Another bird quickly learned to imitate the song of a canary that was mated with it, but as the parrakeet improved in the performance the canary degenerated, and came at last to mingle the other bird's harsh chitterings with its own proper music."
— 1870, Shirley Hibberd, Rustic Adornments for Homes of Taste, page 170:
"A wave simulator in the tank can re-enact tsunamis and northeasters, and imitate wave conditions from midocean."
— 2007 February 20, Tina Kelley, “A Wet Wind Tunnel So Ships Can Move Faster and Better”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 18 Dec 2022:
"The room was dark and cool, lit with a dim red light. “This was designed to imitate a cave,” said Rosas."
— 2019 August 21, Tik Root, “Inside the Race to Build the World's First Commercial Octopus Farm”, in TIME, archived from the original on 28 Aug 2019:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Young children often ____ the actions and words of their parents without reasoning.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Some birds are very talented and can ____ the sounds of other animals and even humans.