imagine
verb[T]
uk/ɪˈmædʒ.ɪn/us/ɪˈmædʒ.ɪn/B1
toformor have amentalpictureorideaof something:
想象；设想Imagine Robert Redford when he wasyoung- that's whatJohnlookslike.想象一下罗伯特‧雷德福年轻时的样子——那就是约翰的模样。
[+ (that)]Imagine(that)you'reeatingicecream-trytofeelhowcoldit is.设想你在吃冰激凌——试着体会一下它有多么冷。
[+ question word]Can you imaginehowitfeelsto beblind?你能想象失明的感觉吗？
[+ -ing verb]She imagined herself sittingin herfavouritechairbackhome.她想象自己正坐在家中最喜欢的扶手椅上。
They hadn't imagined(=expected)(that)it would be sodifficult.他们没想到会这么难。
I can't imagine(= I really don'tknow)what hewantsfrom us.我想不出他想从我们这儿得到些什么。
to imagine something
- imagineYou can just imagine her storing up these anecdotes for her dinner parties.
- think ofI want you to think of a time when you felt happy.
- pictureCan you picture yourself at the age of 60 doing what you do now?
- pictureWhen I say 'your car' you have a picture of that in your head.
- in your mind's eyeIn my mind's eye, I'm still a uni student and not a middle-aged worker.
- conceiveI can't conceive why anyone would want to hurt her.
B2
tobelievethat something isprobablytrue:
猜想，猜测[+ (that)]I imagine(that)he's under a lot ofpressureat themoment.我猜想他现在面临的压力一定很大。
I don't imagine(that)they have muchmoney.我想他们不会有很多钱。
"Will theychangeit?" "I imagineso."“他们会改变它吗？”“我想会的。”
B1
tothinkthat somethingexistsor istrue,althoughinfactit is notrealortrue:
误以为"Did youhearanoise?" "No, you're imaginingthings/No, you must have imagined it."“你听见什么动静了吗？”“没有，你听错了吧／没有，你一定是听错了。”
I've neverheardhercriticizeyou - Ithinkyou imagine it.我从来没有听见她批评过你——我想你在胡思乱想。
used toexpressshockorsurprise, often at someone else'sbehaviour:
（常用来表示对他人行为的惊讶、震惊）难以想象She gotmarriedat 16! Imagine that!她16岁就结婚了！不可思议！
[+ -ing verb]Imaginespendingall thatmoneyon acoat!花那么多钱买一件大衣，真是匪夷所思！
you can't imagine
used toemphasizeastatement:
（表示强调）你无法想象You can't imagine what amessthehousewas in after theparty.你简直想象不到聚会之后屋内有多乱。
- SpendingChristmaswith him and hisbrother- I can't imagine anythingworse!
- Try to imagine whatlifemust have been like for Neolithic man 10 000yearsago.
- "Did youhearanoise?" "No, you're imagining things."
- You can't imagine what it would be like to haveyourchilddie- it'squiteunthinkable.
- He has the mostawfultasteso you canprobablyimagine what hishouselookslike.
Imagining and conceiving
- assume
- beyondyourwildest dreamsidiom
- blue-sky
- conceivable
- conceivably
- fancy
- guess
- imputesomethingtosomeone
- inyourmind's eyeidiom
- inconceivably
- lay the foundation(s) of/foridiom
- look on/uponsomeone/somethingassomething
- reach
- regard
- retheorize
- revisualization
- riot
- run riotidiom
- theorize
- throw
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Guessing, supposing and suspecting
Expressions of surprise
Linguistics: very & extreme