imitate
B2Neutral to formal; common in academic, artistic, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To copy or try to follow the manner, style, appearance, or actions of someone or something.
To produce a copy or representation of; to simulate; to resemble or take as a model.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a deliberate attempt to copy, often but not always with the goal of achieving a similar effect or result. Can be used neutrally, positively (to learn), or negatively (to mock).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Spelling and grammar rules are identical.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + [Noun Phrase] (He imitates his father.)[Verb] + [Wh-clause] (She imitated how he walked.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Often used regarding market strategies, e.g., 'Smaller firms often try to imitate the success of industry leaders.'
Academic
Used in discussions of learning, art history, or biology, e.g., 'The study observed how infants imitate facial expressions.'
Everyday
Common for describing copying behaviour or sounds, e.g., 'He can imitate the sound of a car engine perfectly.'
Technical
In computing/AI: 'The software is designed to imitate human decision-making processes.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Many comedians brilliantly imitate the Prime Minister's distinctive speaking style.
- Young children learn by imitating the adults around them.
- The new architecture was criticised for merely imitating older Gothic designs.
American English
- He can imitate a perfect Southern accent.
- The company's product was seen as an attempt to imitate Apple's marketing strategy.
- Parrots are famous for their ability to imitate human speech.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverb form of 'imitate'. Use 'imitatively'.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form of 'imitate'. Use 'imitatively'.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjective form of 'imitate'. Use 'imitative'.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adjective form of 'imitate'. Use 'imitative'.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby tried to imitate his mother's smile.
- My brother can imitate a cat.
- Many artists start by imitating the great masters.
- It's not a good idea to imitate someone else's homework.
- The software was designed to imitate the problem-solving skills of an expert.
- Her painting style deliberately imitates the techniques of the Impressionists.
- The policy has been widely imitated by governments seeking similar economic results.
- Critics accused the novel of slavishly imitating the narrative structure of its famous predecessor.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I'M IT, mate!' If you're 'it', others copy you. Or link to 'IMAGE' - you create a similar image.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEARNING IS IMITATION; CREATION IS IMITATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'imitate' for simple 'repeat' (повторять). Imitate implies copying the *manner* or *form*.
- Do not confuse with 'initiate' (начинать). 'Imitate' is подражать, копировать.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She imitated to sing like her idol.' Correct: 'She imitated her idol's singing.' or 'She tried to imitate how her idol sings.'
- Confusing spelling: 'immulate' or 'immitate' are incorrect.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'imitate' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The most common noun forms are 'imitation' (the act or result of imitating) and 'imitator' (a person who imitates).
It is neutral. Context determines the connotation. It can be positive (learning, flattery), negative (mockery, lack of originality), or neutral (description).
They are often synonyms. 'Imitate' can imply copying the style or manner to achieve a similar effect, while 'copy' can be more literal and exact, especially for objects or text.
Yes. You can imitate a person's voice, a style of painting, or the design of a product. For example: 'The cheap watch imitates the look of a luxury brand.'