Word
conceive
Meanings
to form an idea, plan, or concept in the mind; to imagine or think of something
to become pregnant and begin to carry a baby
to understand or accept that something is possible; to be able to imagine it
Definition
To conceive means to form an idea in your mind, or to become pregnant with a baby.
To conceive can mean to develop or imagine an idea, plan, or explanation in your mind. It is also commonly used to mean to become pregnant and start carrying a baby. In formal contexts, it may refer to creating something new through thought and planning. The meaning is usually clear from the surrounding context.
Examples
- I can’t conceive how the team delivered the project so quickly without cutting corners.
- She conceived a new outreach strategy after analyzing the community’s feedback in detail.
- They conceived the sculpture as a moving spiral that would change with the light throughout the day.
- He struggled to conceive of a future in which the two departments worked as a single unit.
- After months of trying, we finally conceived and began planning the next stage of our lives.
Common mistake
Learners often use "conceive" when they simply mean "think" (e.g., "I conceive that..."); in most cases, "think" or "believe" is more natural.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.