hallucinate
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /həˈluːsɪneɪt/
KK: /həˈluːsɪneɪt/
intransitive verb
Definition
To see, hear, or feel something that is not actually there, often due to a mental health condition or the effects of drugs.
Example
After staying awake for too long, he began to hallucinate and saw strange shapes in the shadows.
Tense Forms
Past: hallucinated
Past Participle: hallucinated
Conversation
I had the weirdest dream last night; I started to hallucinate about flying.
That sounds wild! What were you flying over?
I was soaring above the city, but then it turned into a jungle.
Wow, that's a crazy mix! I hope you didn't get lost in your dream.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
dream
imagine
fantasize
Antonyms
perceive
recognize
realize
transitive verb
Definition
To make someone experience things that are not real, often due to a mental condition or substance use.
Example
The drug can cause people to hallucinate, seeing things that aren't there.
Tense Forms
Past: hallucinated
Past Participle: hallucinated
Conversation
I heard that some medications can actually hallucinate people.
Really? That sounds pretty intense!
Yeah, I can't imagine what it must be like to see things that aren't there.
Root Explanation
Hallucinate → It is formed from "hallucinari" (meaning to wander in the mind) and the suffix "-ate" (indicating to cause or make). The word describes the act of causing oneself to wander in the mind, leading to perceptions that are not based in reality.
Memory Tip
Imagine your mind 'wandering' ('hallucinari') and creating images that aren't really there — that's what it means to hallucinate.
Visually Confused Words
aluminate
alluviate
allineate