image
image — noun
1. a drawing, painting, printed photo, carved figure, or other item that shows the
a drawing, painting, printed photo, carved figure, or other item that shows the way a particular subject looks
The museum displayed a huge image of the queen in the main hall.
countable: an image of [person]
Harper found an old image of her grandmother inside a dusty photo album.
The textbook uses colourful images to explain how volcanoes form and erupt.
plural: images + to explain
Roya bought a poster showing an image of a famous painting by Monet.
The cave walls were covered with ancient images of animals and hunters.
- an image of
- colourful images
- huge image
- ancient image
- carved image
Grammar Patterns
an image of [someone/something]
Common Mistakes
2. the view you get when something is captured by a mirror, a camera lens, or a dis
the view you get when something is captured by a mirror, a camera lens, or a display screen
Diya stepped closer to the mirror to study her image closely.
possessive: her image in the mirror
The security camera captured a sharp image of the man leaving the building.
Jin pressed a button to freeze the moving image on the computer screen.
collocation: freeze an image
The doctor examined the X-ray image on her screen for several minutes.
A clear image of the bridge appeared on the radar screen.
- mirror image
- screen image
- freeze the image
- capture an image
- digital image
- reflection
specifically what is seen in a mirror or water; not used for camera images
- picture
more casual term for what a camera or screen produces
Grammar Patterns
[possessive] image in/on [surface]
Usage Note
In photography and film contexts, 'image' is slightly more formal than 'picture'. On screens, 'image' is the standard term for a single still frame.
Common Mistakes
3. a scene or impression your mind creates that lets you see the way a person or ob
a scene or impression your mind creates that lets you see the way a person or object appears
When Obi hears the word 'beach,' a clear image of white sand fills his mind.
prepositional pattern: image of [sth] in [possessive] mind
Roya could not shake the image of the frightened puppy from her thoughts.
The storyteller's words created a vivid image of a rainy street in Taipei.
collocation: vivid image
The smell of fresh bread brought back images of his grandmother's kitchen.
Teachers often ask students to form a mental image of what they read.
collocation: mental image
- vivid image
- mental image
- clear image
- image of
- in one's mind
- impression
less visual; more about a general feeling or sense
- mental picture
more explicit; used when you want to stress it is in the mind, not on paper
Grammar Patterns
an image of [something] in [possessive] mind
Usage Note
Frequently paired with adjectives like 'vivid,' 'clear,' 'strong,' or 'mental' to emphasise the clarity of the picture in the mind.
4. the way a person, company, or place is seen by the general public
the way a person, company, or place is seen by the general public
The company hired a team to improve its public image after the scandal.
collocation: public image
Lucía's image as a fair and honest manager made her popular with the staff.
pattern: image as [noun phrase]
The university worked hard to protect its image as a centre of academic excellence.
The charity worked hard to maintain a clean image in the local community.
Lien's image as a helpful team player helped her get the promotion.
pattern: image as [noun phrase]
- public image
- improve one's image
- damage one's image
- image as
- tarnished image
- positive image
- reputation
based more on actual behaviour and track record; 'image' can be crafted independently of reality
- public perception
more formal; describes what people think rather than what is projected
- brand
used in marketing; more commercial and tied to a specific product line
Grammar Patterns
[possessive] image
a [adjective] image
image as [noun]
Usage Note
Common in business, politics, and media contexts. You can have a 'positive image,' 'negative image,' or 'tarnished image.' 'Image' in this sense is about perception, not reality.
Common Mistakes
5. a word or description that makes readers see a scene clearly in their imaginatio
a word or description that makes readers see a scene clearly in their imagination, especially in poems or stories
The poem uses images of fire and ash to express deep anger and loss.
plural: images + of + concrete noun
Andrei's essay was praised for its powerful images of village life during the harvest.
The author uses a broken bridge image to show the end of a close friendship.
symbolic image: broken bridge
The novelist uses images of winter to suggest loneliness and isolation.
Each poem in the collection builds a fresh image of hope and renewal.
- poetic image
- vivid image
- powerful image
- image of
- the author's use of images
- imagery
uncountable — the collective set of images in a work; 'image' is one instance
- figure of speech
broader category that includes metaphors, similes, and other devices beyond just visual description
- metaphor
a specific type of figure of speech that compares two unlike things directly
Grammar Patterns
image of [something]
poetic image
use of images
Usage Note
This is a standard term in literary analysis. 'Imagery' (uncountable) is more common when referring to the general use of vivid descriptions in a text, while 'image' (countable) refers to a single instance.
6. someone who looks almost exactly like another person, especially a parent or old
someone who looks almost exactly like another person, especially a parent or older relative
Little Quinn is the image of his grandfather when he was young.
pattern: be the image of [person]
The young actress was the exact image of her famous mother on the red carpet.
Amihan is the very image of her older sister — people often mistake them for twins.
intensifier: the very image of
With those bright green eyes, the child is the image of her Irish grandmother.
Visitors often remark that the young boy is the image of his famous uncle.
- the image of
- the very image of
- the spitting image of
- the exact image of
- spitting image
more informal and emphatic version of the same expression
- double
suggests an uncanny resemblance that can be confusing to others
Grammar Patterns
be the image of [someone]
be the very/spitting image of [someone]
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed expression 'be the (very/exact/spitting) image of someone.' Not used freely with other determiners.
Common Mistakes
to look exactly like another person, especially a family member
The baby is the spitting image of her father with that round face and curly hair.
To strongly resemble another person or thing in appearance.
Maya is the image of her grandmother at that age.
That puppy is the image of its mother, with the same spots.
image — verb
1. to show someone or something in a painting, photograph, or other work of art
to show someone or something in a painting, photograph, or other work of art
The artist imaged the daily life of farmers in a series of large oil paintings.
transitive: image + noun phrase + in [medium]
The cathedral walls are imaged with colourful scenes from the Bible.
passive: be imaged with [scenes]
Élise imaged her childhood home in a soft watercolour for the family exhibition.
The ancient clay pot was imaged with scenes of wild deer and hunters.
passive: be imaged with [scenes]
Roya imaged the morning fog in a delicate sketch using charcoal pencils.
- imaged in
- imaged on
- imaged with
- beautifully imaged
Grammar Patterns
be imaged in [medium]
image + noun phrase + in/on [medium]
Usage Note
This verb sense is quite formal and less common in everyday speech. 'Depict' or 'paint' are more frequent alternatives for spoken English.
2. to see something clearly in your mind; to imagine what a person or situation is
to see something clearly in your mind; to imagine what a person or situation is like
Ilan tried to image the house as it would look after the full renovation.
pattern: image + noun phrase + as
The children imaged themselves as brave knights riding through the forest.
reflexive pattern: image + reflexive + as
After hearing the song, Harper could image the sunny beach described in the lyrics.
Can you image a world where everyone speaks the same language?
interrogative: can you image...?
Diya imaged the old library as it must have looked a hundred years ago.
- image as
- image oneself
- image vividly
Grammar Patterns
image + noun phrase
image + reflexive + as [noun/adjective]
Usage Note
In modern English, 'imagine' is far more common than 'image' as a verb for this sense. The verb 'image' is mostly found in formal or literary writing.
3. to show the form or appearance of something on a surface, as a mirror or lens do
to show the form or appearance of something on a surface, as a mirror or lens does when it reflects or projects light
The tall glass buildings were imaged in the still water of the lake.
passive: be imaged in [surface]
The scientist imaged the cells onto a computer screen using a powerful microscope.
pattern: image onto [surface]
In the old oval mirror, her face was imaged in a soft golden glow.
The setting sun was imaged on every glass window in the street.
Ultrasound technology images the baby inside the mother's body for doctors to study.
technical: images [object] in [location]
- imaged in
- imaged onto
- imaged on
- imaged by
Grammar Patterns
be imaged in [surface]
image + noun phrase + on/onto [surface]
Usage Note
In scientific contexts, 'imaging' (as a gerund or present participle) is far more common than the base verb. Medical imaging, satellite imaging, and thermal imaging are standard compound nouns.
Word family
- imagerynounB2
- imagineverbA2
- imaginationnounA2
- imaginativeadjectiveB2
- imaginaryadjectiveB1
- imaginableadjectiveB2
- unimaginableadjectiveB2
- unimaginativeadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words refer to visual representations, but they differ in scope and context. 'Image' is the most general and formal term — it can mean any kind of visual representation, from a digital file to a mental picture or a statue. 'Picture' is the everyday word; you use it for photos, drawings, and paintings in casual conversation. 'Likeness' emphasises the accuracy of the resemblance to the original subject; it is less common and more formal, often appearing in phrases like 'a remarkable likeness.' 'Portrait' is specifically a representation of a person (or animal) that focuses on the face and expression. For example, you would say 'I took a picture of the sunset' (not 'image'), but a museum label might read 'this image dates from the 17th century.' A sculptor creates a 'likeness' of a famous figure, while a painter might produce a 'portrait' of a wealthy family.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- clearly
- vividly
- publicly
- digitally
- perfectly
- beautifully
Phrases
- in the image of
- spitting image of
- image and likeness
- in one's own image
- image is everything
Etymology
The word 'image' entered English through Old French, from the Latin noun 'imago' meaning 'a copy, likeness, or picture.' The Latin root is linked to 'imitari' (to imitate), from the Proto-Indo-European root *im- meaning 'to copy.' The verb form developed later in Middle English. Modern technical senses — such as 'mirror image' in optics and 'digital image' in computing — emerged in the 17th and 20th centuries respectively.