Imaginary
adjective
Not real or physical, but existing only in the mind.
She has an imaginary friend named Billy.
Often appears as...
- imaginary friend
- imaginary number
adjective
Used in mathematics to refer to a number that is a square root of a negative number.
In mathematics, the square root of -1 is an imaginary number.
Often appears as...
- imaginary unit
- imaginary number
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Not real or physical, but existing only in the mind.
She has an imaginary friend named Billy.
Often appears as...
- imaginary friend
- imaginary number
adjective
Used in mathematics to refer to a number that is a square root of a negative number.
In mathematics, the square root of -1 is an imaginary number.
Often appears as...
- imaginary unit
- imaginary number
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Creative Concepts
Use 'imaginary' for ideas or entities created in one's mind not found in reality.
As a child, I had an imaginary kingdom.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Factual
'Imaginary' indicates something is not based on factual evidence.
His plan to become a millionaire by tomorrow is purely imaginary.
Pro Tip 3/3Involve Emotions
People may have strong emotional connections to imaginary places or characters.
Her imaginary world was a peaceful escape from stress.
Pro Tip 1/3Creative Concepts
Use 'imaginary' for ideas or entities created in one's mind not found in reality.
As a child, I had an imaginary kingdom.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Factual
'Imaginary' indicates something is not based on factual evidence.
His plan to become a millionaire by tomorrow is purely imaginary.
Pro Tip 3/3Involve Emotions
People may have strong emotional connections to imaginary places or characters.
Her imaginary world was a peaceful escape from stress.
Pro Tip 1/3Creative Concepts
Use 'imaginary' for ideas or entities created in one's mind not found in reality.
As a child, I had an imaginary kingdom.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Factual
'Imaginary' indicates something is not based on factual evidence.
His plan to become a millionaire by tomorrow is purely imaginary.
Pro Tip 3/3Involve Emotions
People may have strong emotional connections to imaginary places or characters.
Her imaginary world was a peaceful escape from stress.
Compare with
fancifulfantasticfictionalfictitioushypotheticalillusoryimaginelegendarilymythicalreal
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Video examples
Why we make bad...
what will you look like, how much hair will you have, who will you be living with. Once we have all the details of that imaginary scenario, suddenly we feel like it might be important to save so that that guy has a little retirement money. But these are tricks around the margins. I think in general you're battling a very fundamental human tendency,
Video examples
The secrets of learning...
or even take a random picture from your phone and describe the picture to your imaginary friend. This is how polyglots learn languages, and the best news is, it's available to anyone who is willing to take the learning into their own hands. So meeting other polyglots helped me realize
Video examples
A Tale of Two Atoms PIPE...
and if a neutron chain reaction could be triggered down there in the world of the atom's nucleus, then something like Wells's imaginary atomic bomb might be possible. He shuddered at the thought of this destructive capability. It was just the latest development
Video examples
How books can open your...
It is not important if I like the job or not. But my dream was to become a Chinese opera singer. That is me playing my imaginary piano. An opera singer must start training young to learn acrobatics, so I tried everything I could to go to opera school.
Video examples
The hidden power of...
When I was a child, I always wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to save the world and make everyone happy. But I knew that I'd need superpowers to make my dreams come true. So I used to embark on these imaginary journeys
Video examples
A Darwinian theory of...
to amuse and amaze each other by, who knows, telling jokes, storytelling, dancing, or hairstyling. Yes, hairstyling -- I insist on that. For us moderns, virtuoso technique is used to create imaginary worlds
Video examples
The case of the missing...
I was there for the dame. She had eyes like imaginary numbers and curves that went on forever. Said she wanted to go home. Said I could help. Said the pay was good. Didn't say anything about climbing a
Video examples
How I made the ultimate...
all I am bringing making my imaginary world real I haven't quite decided what I will bring to life next but one thing I do know is that I can learn whatever I need to accomplish it thank
Video examples
Three anti-social skills...
But if the words and the actions don't match, an adverb can be helpful. "'Your money or your life,' she said lovingly." So, to First, eavesdrop. Next, pretend imaginary people are real.
Video examples
Sámi Reindeer School PIPE...
pupils are taught the most modern techniques of reindeer management as well as the old Sammy traditions in theory imaginary part attalos don't belong yeah here we have several courses
Video examples
Why we make bad...
what will you look like, how much hair will you have, who will you be living with. Once we have all the details of that imaginary scenario, suddenly we feel like it might be important to save so that that guy has a little retirement money. But these are tricks around the margins. I think in general you're battling a very fundamental human tendency,
Video examples
The secrets of learning...
or even take a random picture from your phone and describe the picture to your imaginary friend. This is how polyglots learn languages, and the best news is, it's available to anyone who is willing to take the learning into their own hands. So meeting other polyglots helped me realize
Video examples
A Tale of Two Atoms PIPE...
and if a neutron chain reaction could be triggered down there in the world of the atom's nucleus, then something like Wells's imaginary atomic bomb might be possible. He shuddered at the thought of this destructive capability. It was just the latest development
Video examples
How books can open your...
It is not important if I like the job or not. But my dream was to become a Chinese opera singer. That is me playing my imaginary piano. An opera singer must start training young to learn acrobatics, so I tried everything I could to go to opera school.
Video examples
The hidden power of...
When I was a child, I always wanted to be a superhero. I wanted to save the world and make everyone happy. But I knew that I'd need superpowers to make my dreams come true. So I used to embark on these imaginary journeys
Video examples
A Darwinian theory of...
to amuse and amaze each other by, who knows, telling jokes, storytelling, dancing, or hairstyling. Yes, hairstyling -- I insist on that. For us moderns, virtuoso technique is used to create imaginary worlds
Video examples
The case of the missing...
I was there for the dame. She had eyes like imaginary numbers and curves that went on forever. Said she wanted to go home. Said I could help. Said the pay was good. Didn't say anything about climbing a
Video examples
How I made the ultimate...
all I am bringing making my imaginary world real I haven't quite decided what I will bring to life next but one thing I do know is that I can learn whatever I need to accomplish it thank
Video examples
Three anti-social skills...
But if the words and the actions don't match, an adverb can be helpful. "'Your money or your life,' she said lovingly." So, to First, eavesdrop. Next, pretend imaginary people are real.
Video examples
Sámi Reindeer School PIPE...
pupils are taught the most modern techniques of reindeer management as well as the old Sammy traditions in theory imaginary part attalos don't belong yeah here we have several courses
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kate Bush
British Musician
I had an incredibly full life with my imagination: I used to have all sorts of trolls and things; I had a wonderful world around my toys and invented people. I don't mean I had imaginary friends; I just had this big imagination thing going on. I didn't need any imaginary friends, because I had so much other stuff going on.
Quote examples
Hugo Weaving
Nigerian Actor
Initially I probably didn't even call it acting, but dressing up or something. As a kid I think you fully imagine the world in which you want to inhabit, so you put some clothes on and just kind of freely imagine this world, and it's a total imaginary world.
Quote examples
Zal Batmanglij
American Director
I remember in grade school having a group of friends and enjoying that sense of community, enjoying living in an imaginary world that wasn't just by yourself or your sibling but a whole group of people.
Quote examples
Franz Liszt
Hungarian Composer
The character of instrumental music... lets the emotions radiate and shine in their own character without presuming to display them as real or imaginary representations.
Quote examples
Eric Stoltz
American Actor
I can relate to historical characters or imaginary ones. It doesn't matter if a story takes place in the future or in the present, as long as the story is compelling.
Quote examples
Ken Follett
Welsh Author
I like to create imaginary characters and events around a real historical situation. I want readers to feel: OK, this probably didn't happen, but it might have.
Quote examples
Julianne Moore
American Actress
I'm not really afraid of things that are imaginary. I enjoy it. I enjoy big narrative, and I enjoy big feelings. Having a feeling is never going to kill you.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
There is not enough love and goodness in the world to permit giving any of it away to imaginary beings.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
It now appears that the way the universe began can indeed be determined, using imaginary time.
Quote examples
Edward Bond
English Playwright
I'm not interested in an imaginary world.
Quote examples
Kate Bush
British Musician
I had an incredibly full life with my imagination: I used to have all sorts of trolls and things; I had a wonderful world around my toys and invented people. I don't mean I had imaginary friends; I just had this big imagination thing going on. I didn't need any imaginary friends, because I had so much other stuff going on.
Quote examples
Hugo Weaving
Nigerian Actor
Initially I probably didn't even call it acting, but dressing up or something. As a kid I think you fully imagine the world in which you want to inhabit, so you put some clothes on and just kind of freely imagine this world, and it's a total imaginary world.
Quote examples
Zal Batmanglij
American Director
I remember in grade school having a group of friends and enjoying that sense of community, enjoying living in an imaginary world that wasn't just by yourself or your sibling but a whole group of people.
Quote examples
Franz Liszt
Hungarian Composer
The character of instrumental music... lets the emotions radiate and shine in their own character without presuming to display them as real or imaginary representations.
Quote examples
Eric Stoltz
American Actor
I can relate to historical characters or imaginary ones. It doesn't matter if a story takes place in the future or in the present, as long as the story is compelling.
Quote examples
Ken Follett
Welsh Author
I like to create imaginary characters and events around a real historical situation. I want readers to feel: OK, this probably didn't happen, but it might have.
Quote examples
Julianne Moore
American Actress
I'm not really afraid of things that are imaginary. I enjoy it. I enjoy big narrative, and I enjoy big feelings. Having a feeling is never going to kill you.
Quote examples
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
There is not enough love and goodness in the world to permit giving any of it away to imaginary beings.
Quote examples
Stephen Hawking
English Physicist
It now appears that the way the universe began can indeed be determined, using imaginary time.
Quote examples
Edward Bond
English Playwright
I'm not interested in an imaginary world.
Example 1 of 10
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