imitate

imitate — verb

1. to match the speech, movements, or actions of a person or thing, whether for lea

1.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to match the speech, movements, or actions of a person or thing, whether for learning, entertainment, or achieving a similar look or sound.

Example

Romi imitated her teacher's accent perfectly, making the whole class laugh.

imitate + accent / voice / style for humour or practice

Young children often imitate whatever they see their parents doing around the house.

imitate + whatever / how clause

Common collocations
  • imitate someone's accent
  • imitate someone's style
  • imitate someone's behaviour
  • imitate a sound
  • imitate a movement
  • imitate a gesture
  • imitate an expression
Synonyms
  • mimic

    focuses on copying movements or speech closely, often for comedy or practice; 'imitate' is the broader, more neutral term

  • copy

    suggests producing an identical version; 'imitate' is more about recreating the style or appearance than an exact duplicate

  • emulate

    implies trying to match or surpass someone admired; more formal and goal-oriented than 'imitate'

  • ape

    negative tone; means to copy without understanding, like a mindless follower

Antonyms
  • innovate

    to create something new rather than copy what already exists

Grammar Patterns

imitate + noun phrase

imitate + how / whatever clause

Usage Note

Direct object is typically a person's accent, voice, style, behaviour, or movements. The verb can also take a clause beginning with 'how', 'whatever', or 'the way'.

Common Mistakes

She copied his voice perfectly.
She imitated his voice perfectly.
'copy' mainly refers to reproducing documents or creative works, while 'imitate' is the standard verb for mimicking speech or mannerisms.

Word family

  • imitation
    nounB2
  • imitative
    adjectiveC1
  • imitator
    nounC1
  • inimitable
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve following or reproducing someone else's model. 'Imitate' is the broadest and most neutral — you can imitate a person's accent, a bird's song, or a company's business model. 'Mimic' is more specific to sound and movement, often with playful or theatrical intent; a comedian mimics a politician's voice. 'Copy' leans toward producing an exact replica — you copy a painting or a document — and can sound mechanical or even dishonest in social contexts. 'Emulate' is aspirational: you emulate a role model's success or dedication. 'Ape' carries a negative tone, suggesting unthinking or clumsy imitation. For everyday speech about learning through observation, 'imitate' and 'copy' are the most common choices; use 'mimic' when you want to stress skill with sound or gesture, and 'emulate' for achievements and personal qualities.

mimic ↗copy ↗emulateape ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Prepositions

  • imitate in
  • imitate by

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Imitate' comes from the Latin verb 'imitari', meaning 'to copy, portray, or reproduce'. It entered English through French 'imiter' in the 1500s. The sense of mimicking people's speech or behaviour for humour developed later, as the word broadened from art and craft into everyday social life.