What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
personating
Example
The actor was personating the role of a detective in the play. [personating: verb]
Example
He was arrested for personating a police officer. [personating: gerund or present participle]
imitate
Example
She can imitate the voices of famous celebrities. [imitate: verb]
Example
The artist was able to imitate the style of the famous painter in his own work. [imitate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Imitate is more commonly used than personating in everyday language. Imitate is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while personating is less common and is often associated with negative or illegal activities.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between personating and imitate?
While personating is typically associated with a more formal or legal tone, imitate is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
