verb (used with object), im·i·tat·ed, im·i·tat·ing.
- to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example: to imitate an author’s style; to imitate an older brother.
- to mimic; impersonate: The students imitated the teacher behind her back.
- to make a copy of; reproduce closely.
- to have or assume the appearance of; simulate; resemble.
verb (tr)
- to try to follow the manner, style, character, etc, of or take as a modelmany writers imitated the language of Shakespeare
- to pretend to be or to impersonate, esp for humour; mimic
- to make a copy or reproduction of; duplicate; counterfeit
- to make or be like; resemble or simulateher achievements in politics imitated her earlier successes in business
1530s, a back-formation from imitation or imitator, or else from Latin imitatus. Related: Imitated; imitating. An Old English word for this was æfterhyrigan.