What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
imitated
Example
The child imitated his favorite superhero's fighting moves. [imitated: verb]
Example
She imitated her boss's accent perfectly. [imitated: past tense]
emulated
Example
He emulated his father's successful business practices. [emulated: verb]
Example
The athlete hoped to emulate the world record holder's performance. [emulate: infinitive]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imitated is more commonly used than emulated in everyday language. Imitated is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while emulated is less common and tends to be used in more formal or academic settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between imitated and emulated?
While imitated can be used in both formal and informal contexts, emulated is typically associated with a more formal or academic tone.
