The words imitated and intimated look similar, but they have very different meanings. Because they differ by only a few letters, English learners sometimes confuse them in writing and conversation. However, using the wrong word can change the meaning of a sentence completely.
In this guide, you will learn the difference between imitated vs. intimated, their definitions, grammar rules, verb forms, and sentence structures. You will also find practical examples, common mistakes, a comparison table, and five frequently asked questions to help you use both words correctly.
What Is the Difference Between Imitated and Intimated?
Imitated means copied or reproduced someone’s actions, behavior, speech, or style. Intimated means hinted at or communicated something indirectly.
Both words are the past tense and past participle forms of different verbs: imitate and intimate.
For example:
- She imitated her teacher’s voice. (She copied the teacher’s voice.)
- He intimated that he wanted to leave. (He hinted that he wanted to leave.)
The easiest way to remember the difference is that imitated means copied, while intimated means hinted.
Definition of Imitated
Imitated is the past tense and past participle of the verb imitate. It means to copy the actions, behavior, appearance, speech, or style of another person or thing.
Imitation can be intentional or unintentional. People often imitate others to learn a skill, entertain an audience, or develop their own style.
Examples of Imitated in Sentences
- The child imitated his father’s walking style.
- She imitated the actor’s voice perfectly.
- The students imitated their teacher’s pronunciation.
- The comedian imitated a famous singer.
- The young artist imitated the style of a well-known painter.
- The puppy imitated the older dog’s behavior.
- He imitated the dance moves he saw online.
- The student imitated the experiment demonstrated in class.
In each example, someone copies an action, sound, behavior, or style.
When Should You Use Imitated?
Use imitated when describing an action that involves copying.
Common situations include:
- Learning: A child imitates an adult to learn new words.
- Entertainment: A comedian imitates a famous person.
- Education: A student imitates a teacher’s pronunciation.
- Art: An artist imitates another painter’s style.
- Behavior: Someone imitates another person’s habits or gestures.
Remember that imitated usually describes something that can be observed, reproduced, or copied.
Definition of Intimated
Intimated is the past tense and past participle of the verb intimate. As a verb, intimate means to suggest, hint at, or communicate something indirectly.
When someone intimates something, they do not always state it openly. Instead, they give clues about what they think, feel, or intend.
Examples of Intimated in Sentences
- She intimated that she was unhappy with the decision.
- He intimated that he might resign soon.
- The manager intimated that changes were coming.
- My friend intimated that she needed some time alone.
- The teacher intimated that the answer was incorrect.
- The company intimated that prices might increase.
- He intimated his disagreement without saying it directly.
- Her expression intimated that something was wrong.
In these examples, the person communicates an idea indirectly rather than stating it clearly.
When Should You Use Intimated?
Use intimated when describing an indirect message, suggestion, or hint.
Common situations include:
- Workplace communication: A manager hints at a possible change.
- Personal conversations: A friend indirectly expresses disappointment.
- Formal writing: A report suggests that a problem exists.
- Negotiations: Someone hints at their intentions without making a direct statement.
- Everyday communication: A person’s words or behavior suggest a particular feeling.
The verb intimate is relatively formal. In everyday conversation, people often use words such as hinted, suggested, or implied instead.
Imitated vs. Intimated: Comparison Table
The following table highlights the main differences between these words.
| Feature | Imitated | Intimated |
| Base verb | Imitate | Intimate |
| Part of speech | Verb form | Verb form |
| Main meaning | Copied | Hinted or suggested |
| Communication style | Reproduces an action or expression | Communicates indirectly |
| Common object | Voice, behavior, style, actions | Idea, intention, feeling |
| Common synonym | Copied, mimicked | Hinted, suggested, implied |
| Example | He imitated the singer. | He intimated that he was leaving. |
Quick tip: If someone copies another person’s behavior, use imitated. If someone indirectly communicates an idea, use intimated.
Sentence Structure: How to Use Imitated and Intimated
Understanding sentence structure makes it easier to use these words correctly.
Although both words are verbs in the past tense, they commonly appear in different sentence patterns.
1. Subject + Imitated + Object
Use this structure when someone copies a person, action, sound, or style.
Formula:
Subject + imitated + object
Examples:
- The boy imitated his father.
- She imitated the singer’s voice.
- The students imitated the teacher’s movements.
- The artist imitated the original painting.
The object identifies what was copied.
2. Subject + Intimated + That-Clause
Use this structure when someone hints at an idea or situation.
Formula:
Subject + intimated + that + subject + verb
Examples:
- She intimated that she was tired.
- He intimated that he might leave.
- The manager intimated that the meeting would be postponed.
- They intimated that they disagreed with the proposal.
A that-clause explains the idea that was communicated indirectly.
In many sentences, you can omit that without changing the meaning.
- She intimated that she was upset.
- She intimated she was upset.
Both are grammatically correct.
3. Subject + Intimated + Noun
The verb intimate can also take a noun that identifies the idea or feeling being suggested.
Examples:
- He intimated his disagreement.
- She intimated her intention to resign.
- The letter intimated a possible change.
This structure is more formal than simply saying someone hinted at something.
Verb Forms of Imitate and Intimate
Both words follow regular verb patterns. However, their meanings remain different in every form.
| Verb form | Imitate | Intimate |
| Base form | Imitate | Intimate |
| Third-person singular | Imitates | Intimates |
| Past tense | Imitated | Intimated |
| Present participle | Imitating | Intimating |
| Past participle | Imitated | Intimated |
Examples of Different Verb Forms
Imitate:
- I imitate my coach’s technique.
- She imitates her favorite singer.
- He imitated his brother yesterday.
- They are imitating the dance.
- The original style has been imitated many times.
Intimate:
- I rarely intimate my intentions.
- She intimates that she knows the answer.
- He intimated that he was unhappy.
- The report is intimating that further changes may occur. (Grammatically possible, but uncommon.)
- The possibility was intimated during the meeting.
Notice that the present participle intimating is much less common in everyday English than hinting or suggesting.
Imitated vs. Intimated in Different Tenses
Both verbs can be used in different tenses. The correct tense depends on when the action or communication occurs.
1. Simple Present Tense
Use the simple present for habits, repeated actions, and general statements.
- The child imitates his mother.
- She sometimes intimates that she disagrees.
2. Simple Past Tense
Use the simple past for completed actions in the past.
- The boy imitated his teacher yesterday.
- The manager intimated that the company would make changes.
3. Present Perfect Tense
Use the present perfect to connect a past action with the present.
Structure: Subject + has/have + past participle.
- She has imitated several famous singers.
- He has intimated that he may resign.
Remember the rule for has vs. have:
- Use has with he, she, and it.
- Use have with I, you, we, and they.
4. Past Perfect Tense
Use the past perfect when one past action happened before another past event.
Structure: Subject + had + past participle.
- She had imitated the dance before the performance began.
- He had intimated his concerns before the meeting ended.
This is an example of the use of had with the past participle.
5. Simple Future Tense
Use the simple future to describe an action that will happen later.
Structure: Subject + will + base verb.
- The child will imitate the teacher.
- She will intimate her intentions at the meeting.
Notice that after will, you must use the base form, not the past form.
Incorrect: She will intimated her intentions.
Correct: She will intimate her intentions.
10 Examples of Imitated and Intimated
Here are ten examples to help you understand the difference in everyday contexts.
- The little boy imitated his father’s laugh.
- She imitated the actor’s accent.
- The students imitated the movements shown in the video.
- The artist imitated the painting’s original style.
- The comedian imitated a famous politician’s voice.
- He intimated that he was ready to leave.
- The manager intimated that a promotion might be possible.
- She intimated her dissatisfaction with the service.
- My friend intimated that she had a surprise for me.
- The letter intimated that the agreement could change.
Examples 1–5 describe copying. Examples 6–10 describe indirect communication.
Common Mistakes and Corrections
Because imitated and intimated look and sound similar, it is easy to choose the wrong one.
Here are some common errors and their corrections.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
| She intimated the singer’s voice. | She imitated the singer’s voice. | A voice is copied, not hinted at. |
| He imitated that he was unhappy. | He intimated that he was unhappy. | The sentence describes an indirect suggestion. |
| The child intimated his father’s actions. | The child imitated his father’s actions. | Actions can be copied. |
| She will intimated her concerns. | She will intimate her concerns. | Use the base verb after will. |
| He has imitate the teacher. | He has imitated the teacher. | Use the past participle after has. |
| They had intimated their teacher’s accent. | They had imitated their teacher’s accent. | Copying an accent requires imitated. |
How to Avoid These Mistakes
Follow these simple steps:
- Identify the meaning you want to express.
- Ask yourself whether someone is copying something or hinting at something.
- Choose imitated for copying and intimated for indirect communication.
- Check the tense and make sure the verb form is correct.
These steps can help you avoid common vocabulary and grammar mistakes.
Synonyms of Imitated and Intimated
Learning synonyms can expand your vocabulary and help you choose the right word for different contexts.
Synonyms of Imitated
Common synonyms include:
- Copied: Reproduced something.
- Mimicked: Copied someone’s voice, movements, or behavior.
- Replicated: Made a copy of something.
- Emulated: Tried to match or equal someone’s success or behavior.
- Reproduced: Created something similar to the original.
Example: The child mimicked his father’s voice.
Synonyms of Intimated
Common synonyms include:
- Hinted: Suggested something indirectly.
- Implied: Communicated an idea without stating it directly.
- Suggested: Put forward an idea or possibility.
- Indicated: Showed or pointed toward something.
- Signaled: Communicated a message or intention.
Example: She hinted that she wanted to leave early.
These words are not always interchangeable. For instance, emulated often suggests trying to match someone’s achievements, while copied can describe straightforward reproduction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between imitated and intimated?
Imitated means copied, while intimated means hinted at or suggested indirectly. For example, someone imitates a voice but intimates an intention.
2. Is intimated a real word?
Yes. Intimated is the past tense and past participle of intimate, meaning to communicate something indirectly.
3. Is imitated the past tense of imitate?
Yes. Imitated is both the simple past tense and the past participle of the regular verb imitate.
4. Can intimated mean copied?
No. In its standard verb usage, intimated means hinted at or communicated indirectly. Use imitated when you mean copied.
5. What is a synonym for intimated?
Common synonyms include hinted, implied, and suggested. The best choice depends on the sentence.
6. What is the noun form of imitated?
The main noun form is imitation. For example, “Her imitation of the singer was impressive.”
7. What is the noun form of intimated?
The noun intimation refers to an indirect suggestion or hint. For example, “He gave no intimation of his plans.”
Conclusion
Understanding imitated vs. intimated is simple once you remember their meanings. Imitated means copied, while intimated means hinted at or communicated indirectly.
Use imitated when describing copied voices, actions, behavior, or styles. Use intimated when someone suggests an idea, feeling, or intention without expressing it directly.
Pay attention to the meaning, sentence structure, and verb tense. With regular practice, you will be able to choose the correct word confidently and make your English clearer and more accurate.
