Imagination – Meaning in English

Word: Imagination

Part of Speech: Noun
Pronunciation: ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃn
Category: General

Imagination Definition

Imagination is the ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful. It is the part of the mind that helps us to create new ideas or pictures in our mind of things that are not real or present.

Usage Notes

Often used when talking about someone's creativity or ability to come up with new ideas.

Example Sentences

  • His imagination knows no bounds.
  • Her artwork shows a lot of imagination.
  • The book really captures the imagination of the reader.
  • She has a vivid imagination and always comes up with new ideas.
  • You need a good imagination to write fiction.
  • Her imagination is amazing, she can create whole worlds in her mind.

Synonyms (Similar Words)

  • Creativity
  • Inventiveness
  • Ingenuity
  • Imagery
  • Vision
  • Inspiration
  • Originality
  • Artistry
  • Innovation
  • Fantasy

Antonyms (Opposite Words)

  • Reality
  • Fact
  • Truth
  • Certainty
  • Concreteness
  • Materiality
  • Existence
  • Actuality
  • Pragmatism
  • Realism

Idioms and Phrases

  • A figment of one's imagination – Something that someone has imagined and that does not exist.
  • Leave nothing to the imagination – To be very clear or detailed or to reveal everything.
  • Capture one's imagination – To make someone feel very interested and excited.

Word Origin and History

Late Middle English: via Old French from Latin imaginatio(n-), from the verb imaginari ‘picture to oneself’, from imago, imagin- ‘image’.