- imagine
- verb1 form a picture of sth in your mindADVERB▪ clearly, easily, readily▪
I could clearly imagine the scene in the office.
▪ barely, hardly, scarcely (esp. BrE)▪I could hardly imagine living in such a remote and desolate spot.
▪ just▪She could just imagine her mother's look of horror.
▪ quite▪The sight was disturbing as you can quite imagine.
▪ almost▪When I think about this story I can almost imagine the look on his face.
▪ ever, possibly▪the best guitarist you could possibly imagine
▪ fully (esp. AmE)▪I couldn't fully imagine what it could be.
▪ actually▪I can't actually imagine her falling for that trick.
▪ always▪I always imagined him following in his father's footsteps.
▪ vividly▪She had so vividly imagined it time and time again.
VERB + IMAGINE▪ can▪I can well imagine the atmosphere at home at this moment.
▪There's more at stake here than you can possibly imagine.
▪ try to▪ begin to, start to▪I can't even begin to imagine the horrors that they have been through.
▪I started to imagine what he might say.
▪ dare to▪He hardly dared to imagine what else was going to be divulged.
▪ love to▪He loved to imagine himself as the hero.
▪ be difficult to, be hard to, be impossible to, be tough to▪It is difficult to imagine a world without money.
▪ be absurd to, be far-fetched to▪ be easy to▪ be free to▪The artist is free to imagine anything she pleases.
PHRASES▪ let us imagine▪Let us imagine what really might have happened.
2 see/hear/think sth that is not true/does not existADVERB▪ really, seriously▪You don't seriously imagine I'll agree to that?
▪ almost▪I could almost imagine you were jealous.
▪ actually▪ just, merely, simply▪She knew she was simply imagining things.
▪ fondly, naively (both esp. BrE)▪I had fondly imagined that riding a mule would be easy.
VERB + IMAGINE▪ be easy toPHRASES▪ be imagining things▪Had I really heard a noise, or was I just imagining things?
▪ real and imagined, real or imagined▪He was always quick to avenge insults, real or imagined.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
