Library / English Dictionary

IMPERSONATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pretend to be someone you are not; sometimes with fraudulent intentions

Example:

She posed as the Czar's daughter

Synonyms:

impersonate; personate; pose

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "impersonate" is one way to...):

betray; deceive; lead astray (cause someone to believe an untruth)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "impersonate"):

masquerade (pretend to be someone or something that you are not)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

impersonation (imitating the mannerisms of another person)

impersonation (pretending to be another person)

impersonator (someone who (fraudulently) assumes the appearance of another)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Represent another person with comic intentions

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "impersonate" is one way to...):

mock (imitate with mockery and derision)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

impersonation (a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect)

persona (an actor's portrayal of someone in a play)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Assume or act the character of

Example:

The actor portrays an elderly, lonely man

Synonyms:

impersonate; portray

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "impersonate" is one way to...):

act; play; represent (play a role or part)

Domain category:

performing arts (arts or skills that require public performance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

impersonation (imitating the mannerisms of another person)

impersonation (pretending to be another person)

persona (an actor's portrayal of someone in a play)

Credits