as in theory
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1
as in envisioning
to form a mental picture of
she was determined to have the wedding that she had always imagined
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in thinking
to have as an opinion
I imagine that's true, but you still have to prove it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in guessing
to form an opinion from little or no evidence
I imagine things will change rapidly once we begin
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of imagining
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
Full Moon isn’t all force; in Brandy’s imagining, the record would serve as an exploration of an entire relationship, and fittingly the love songs here shine.
—Jackson Howard, Pitchfork, 29 Mar. 2026
Article continues below Maul is a dirtier, grungier imagining of the Star Wars universe, leaning into the darker moments of shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
But Love Story offers its condemnations without seeming to wonder whether a work of semi-fiction—a full-scale imagining of two people’s lives—is a paparazzo by other means.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2026
And in unassuming buildings scattered across Los Angeles, a reiterative imagining of community theater would continue, one Thursday night at a time.
—Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The museum’s Sunday conversation series, created in partnership with the Othering & Belonging Institute, is set to explore the topic of radical public imagining.
—Anne Schrager, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Jan. 2026
For contestants on Jeopardy's Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005, no imagining was needed.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
If the poem were merely a wish that the world is like this, a pretty imagining, then to hell with it.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Continuously setting industry standards and re-imagining what cruise travel can be, the company manages to maintain its Dutch roots and history while keeping a firm grasp on modern travel trends.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The summer travel season is here, and many people are already imagining themselves on vacation.
—Lori Smith, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Trevor began imagining elaborate criminal schemes.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 11 May 2026
The Boys is an American satirical dark comedy television show that flips the conventional superhero narrative on its head by imagining a society where superpowers are abused for influence and profit.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Models include a way to describe it, imagining light pressure pushing material off the star, exceeding its stable luminosity limit – what scientists call super-Eddington conditions.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 3 May 2026
Speculative fiction like this is the key to surviving this American moment and imagining a more inclusive future for the next 250 years.
—Time, 30 Apr. 2026
The 61st event takes place at the 1907 Baldwin Oaks Estate in Arcadia with 28 Los Angeles area designers re-imagining interior spaces and gardens, through May 17.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
The classical re-imagining of Mellon Collie was unveiled last November at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2026
Full Moon isn’t all force; in Brandy’s imagining, the record would serve as an exploration of an entire relationship, and fittingly the love songs here shine.
—Jackson Howard, Pitchfork, 29 Mar. 2026
Article continues below Maul is a dirtier, grungier imagining of the Star Wars universe, leaning into the darker moments of shows like The Clone Wars and Rebels.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
But Love Story offers its condemnations without seeming to wonder whether a work of semi-fiction—a full-scale imagining of two people’s lives—is a paparazzo by other means.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2026
And in unassuming buildings scattered across Los Angeles, a reiterative imagining of community theater would continue, one Thursday night at a time.
—Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
The museum’s Sunday conversation series, created in partnership with the Othering & Belonging Institute, is set to explore the topic of radical public imagining.
—Anne Schrager, San Francisco Chronicle, 14 Jan. 2026
For contestants on Jeopardy's Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005, no imagining was needed.
—Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
If the poem were merely a wish that the world is like this, a pretty imagining, then to hell with it.
—Christian Wiman, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
My own research in the Princeton Music Cognition Lab peels back the everyday experience of imagining something while listening to music to identify a striking case of this collision between the individual and the collective.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Continuously setting industry standards and re-imagining what cruise travel can be, the company manages to maintain its Dutch roots and history while keeping a firm grasp on modern travel trends.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
The summer travel season is here, and many people are already imagining themselves on vacation.
—Lori Smith, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
Trevor began imagining elaborate criminal schemes.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 11 May 2026
The Boys is an American satirical dark comedy television show that flips the conventional superhero narrative on its head by imagining a society where superpowers are abused for influence and profit.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Models include a way to describe it, imagining light pressure pushing material off the star, exceeding its stable luminosity limit – what scientists call super-Eddington conditions.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 3 May 2026
Speculative fiction like this is the key to surviving this American moment and imagining a more inclusive future for the next 250 years.
—Time, 30 Apr. 2026
The 61st event takes place at the 1907 Baldwin Oaks Estate in Arcadia with 28 Los Angeles area designers re-imagining interior spaces and gardens, through May 17.
—Holly Andres, Daily News, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imagining
Noun
-
This is as important, and as boring, in theory, as picking a fund for your 401(k), yet, improbably, the draft has become one of the largest events on the sporting calendar.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
To overcome this problem, the study authors used a mathematical framework called the theory of functional connections (TFC).—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
The 36-year-old blueliner heads into the Ducks’ second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights envisioning the possibility of a playoff run.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
In 1866, Howells had been able to recognize the connection between ending slavery, envisioning equality, and the broadest expression of the American idea.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Long-term stewardship, whether that’s building a brand, investing in people or thinking about legacy, becomes harder to prioritize when the focus is on what can be measured and delivered in the next quarter.—
Rebecca Brooks,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
What are you supposed to be thinking when your team is pushing toward the goal?—
Nicole Williams,
AJC.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Connecting them is what shifts you from guessing which behaviors matter to knowing.—
Brian Tuite,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Support becomes less about guessing and more about understanding.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
The Maldives Coast Guard began an over and underwater search for the four remaining divers, but once Benedetti’s body was found, the authorities began working under the assumption that the four remaining divers were inside the cave.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
-
But that assumption can present risks to employers.—
William Phillips,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
When picturing a predator, most people envision an animal with immense speed, sharp teeth or deadly venom.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
-
The test case—picturing a cow doing ballet—produces a smug bovine pirouetting.—
Elise Broach,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some portion of eligible people are probably discouraged from applying at all, believing the lottery system to be rigged or pointless.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
15 May 2026
-
Relatives said that Torres has not answered calls and texts, believing that his family would discourage him from making the Miami trip, the outlet reported.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Put simply, Wembanyama is built for the SportsCenter Top 10, assuming that still exists.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
But gone are the days of assuming good actors rule the roost when bad action can be quicker, easier, and more lucrative.—
Will Johnson,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Imagining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imagining. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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