Meaning & use
imagining
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“imagining” is a form of “imagine”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
forming a picture or idea of something in your mind, especially something that is not actually present or real.
Grammar: Can take an object (imagine a place) or be used without one (stop imagining); often followed by a clause or -ing form.
Patterns
- imagine something
- imagine doing something
- imagine that ...
- imagine someone doing something
She sat by the window, imagining a beach far away.
He kept imagining that someone was watching him.
Try imagining what it would be like to live there.
nouncountable or uncountable
the act or result of forming mental pictures or ideas of things that are not present.
Grammar: Usually used in the singular or as an uncountable noun; can be plural when referring to multiple instances.
Patterns
- a product of imagining
- in my imagining
- the imagining of something
The whole plan was just a product of his imagining.
In her imagining, the old house was full of friendly ghosts.
The story is an imagining of what might have happened.
Word forms
| third person singular | imagines |
|---|---|
| past tense | imagined |
| past participle | imagined |
| present participle | imagining |
Common combinations
- keep imagining
- She kept imagining that she heard footsteps behind her.
- can't imagine
- I can't imagine living without my phone.
- try imagining
- Try imagining how she must have felt.
- stop imagining
- He told himself to stop imagining things.
Synonyms and how they differ
- envision
- Envision is more formal and often suggests a clear, planned picture of a future goal.
- picture
- Picture means to form a mental image, often of a specific scene, and is slightly less abstract than imagine.
- suppose
- Suppose means to think something is likely true, while imagine is more about creating a mental image or scenario.
Word family
- imagination noun
- the ability to form ideas or pictures in your mind.
- imaginative adjective
- good at thinking of new, original ideas.
- imaginary adjective
- existing only in the mind; not real.
- imaginable adjective
- possible to think of or picture.
Commonly confused: imagining or imagining vs imagination?
imagining vs imagining vs imagination
Imagining is the -ing form of the verb or a rare noun meaning the act; imagination is the common noun for the ability.
Practice
Choose the correct form: She spent the afternoon ___ a world where everyone was kind.
Choose one answer.
After 'spent the afternoon' we use the -ing form to show a continuous activity, so 'imagining' is correct. 'Imagine' is the base form and does not fit after 'spent' without 'to' or -ing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “imagining”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.