Imagination
ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən
Definitions
2 meaningsThe ability to form new ideas, images, or concepts in the mind.
ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən
The faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.
Children often use their imagination when playing.
💡 Simply: It's like having a superpower that lets you create pictures and stories in your head. For example, if someone says "dragon," your imagination helps you see a dragon, even if one isn't really there.
👶 For kids: It's when you can think of things that aren't real, like a flying unicorn!
More Examples
Her vivid imagination helped her write a compelling novel.
The artist's imagination was boundless, producing unique works of art.
How It's Used
"His powerful imagination brought fictional characters to life."
"Imagination plays a key role in creative problem-solving."
Resourcefulness or creativity, especially in problem-solving or adapting to new situations.
ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən
The ability to deal resourcefully with unexpected situations.
Her imagination was crucial in overcoming obstacles.
💡 Simply: This is like having a clever brain that can find cool ways to deal with surprises or tricky situations. Like, if you're out of building blocks, your imagination helps you find new things to play with.
👶 For kids: It's when you're clever enough to come up with a solution when something goes wrong or you need to solve a puzzle.
More Examples
They needed imagination to navigate the changing market.
The team showed remarkable imagination in their approach to the crisis.
How It's Used
"She used her imagination to find a solution to the complex problem."
"Marketing teams rely on imagination to generate novel campaign ideas."
Idioms & expressions
a flight of imagination
An act of imagining something, especially something fanciful or unrealistic.
"His novel was a complete flight of imagination."
to stretch one's imagination
To try to think of new or unusual things.
"The challenge forced him to stretch his imagination."
From Middle English imaginacioun, from Old French imaginacion, from Latin imaginatio ('a picturing, image').
The concept of imagination has been present for centuries, often discussed in philosophy and literature to explore creativity and the power of the mind.
Memory tip
Imagine your own world in your mind.