conceive

verb

kən-ˈsēv How to pronounce conceive (audio)
Definition of conceivenext
1
as in to imagine
to form a mental picture of it takes an idealist to conceive a world without war, and an activist to make it happen

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of I cannot conceive the reason for such pointless vandalism

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to think
to have as an opinion I just can't conceive that he would have lied

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word conceive distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of conceive are envisage, envision, fancy, imagine, realize, and think. While all these words mean "to form an idea of," conceive suggests the forming and bringing forth and usually developing of an idea, plan, or design.

conceived of a new marketing approach

How do envisage and envision relate to one another, in the sense of conceive?

Both envisage and envision imply a conceiving or imagining that is especially clear or detailed.

envisaged a totally computerized operation
envisioned a cure for the disease

When could fancy be used to replace conceive?

Although the words fancy and conceive have much in common, fancy suggests an imagining often unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires.

fancied himself a super athlete

In what contexts can imagine take the place of conceive?

While in some cases nearly identical to conceive, imagine stresses a visualization.

imagine you're at the beach

When would realize be a good substitute for conceive?

The synonyms realize and conceive are sometimes interchangeable, but realize stresses a grasping of the significance of what is conceived or imagined.

realized the enormity of the task ahead

When can think be used instead of conceive?

In some situations, the words think and conceive are roughly equivalent. However, think implies the entrance of an idea into one's mind with or without deliberate consideration or reflection.

I just thought of a good joke

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conceive Fertility treatments may be used to help induce ovulation in people who are trying to conceive children with this condition, Dunaif added. —Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 13 May 2026 The third flying person appears in archival footage projected during Be Holding, a performance Brooke O’Harra conceived with the poet Ross Gay, the composer Tyshawn Sorey, and the musical quartet Yarn/Wire. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026 Protecting a History The villas are not conceived as oversize hotel suites, but as autonomous residences embedded within the rhythms of the estate itself. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 12 May 2026 Projects are conceived for global dialog through co-production intelligence, García told Variety. —John Hopewell, Variety, 11 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for conceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conceive
  1. imagine
  2. understand
  3. think
  4. envision
  5. know
  6. believe
  7. see
  8. comprehend
Verb
  • Hiba imagined seeing snow for the first time and living in a cold state, such as Ohio.
    — Annie Hylton, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • Now imagine moving millions of items, each of them delicate, unique, priceless and old.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Definition of imagine
Verb
  • Constant said families should be able to look several years ahead and understand whether their children are likely to have transfer opportunities available.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
  • Van de Peer and his colleagues wanted to understand what accounts for the abundance of modern polyploidy and the seeming relative scarcity of it long ago.
    — Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
Definition of understand
Verb
  • If there are Porthilly oysters on the menu don’t even think about ordering another starter.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
  • Returning last summer, I was reminded of the incredible detail and thought put into every element of the park.
    — Zachary Laks, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
Definition of think
Verb
  • Matsuzawa envisioned a future that would keep him in Japan — college, followed by a career.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 May 2026
  • Her role, the one head coach Cori Close envisioned to complete a team built to win it all, centered on joy and culture.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Definition of envision
Verb
  • Did either network know Krakowski was double dipping?
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • Sark knows the Texas football team isn't there for academics, or at least, the starters.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of know
Verb
  • Now might not seem the moment for Democrats to be quarrelling, but many of them believe that the only way to build the Party back up is to remake it.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
  • Upper Darby Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt told 6 ABC that investigators believe a group of friends, who included two boys and two girls, were hanging out at the home when the fatal shooting occurred.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Definition of believe
Verb
  • The backstory South America’s largest city sprawls as far as the eye can see with towers and highways, which explains how this part of town (not the most central) has become a hub for meetings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
  • But drivers wouldn’t immediately see that full amount shaved off their bills under a suspension.
    — Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • Just a few years ago the meaning lay hidden behind a wall of medical jargon that only doctors could comprehend.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 15 May 2026
  • At first, even Kenney herself struggled to comprehend how quickly the project was expanding.
    — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Definition of comprehend

Browse Nearby Words

conceivably
conceive
conceived
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Cite this Entry

“Conceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conceive. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of conceive for Spanish Speakers

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