WordValeemulate
to imitate in order to match or surpass
In more detail
1. (verb) to try to do something as well as or better than someone else by copying what they do
2. (verb) to copy or imitate someone or something
Examples
- 1. Young musicians often emulate their favorite artists.
- 2. The new software is designed to emulate the functions of the original program.
How to use emulate
Emulate differs from merely copying: it suggests admiration and an aspiration to equal or exceed a model, often implying deliberate effort and skill. It is commonly used in contexts of professional achievement, personal development, and technical systems (where emulation means reproducing function). The tone is generally positive when referring to people, neutral when describing technical processes.
Common phrases
- emulate success
- emulate a role model
- emulate the behavior
- hard to emulate
- seek to emulate
Synonyms
imitate · mimic · copy · replicate · match
Word family
emulation (noun) · emulator (noun) · emulative (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse emulate with simulate; emulate means to copy and try to match or surpass, while simulate means to create a likeness or imitation without necessarily matching performance.
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