Collocations for imagine - verb
1. form a picture of sth in your mind
ADV.
clearly, easily, readily
I could clearly imagine the scene in the office.
I could clearly imagine the scene in the office.
hardly, scarcely
I could hardly imagine living in such a remote and desolate spot.
I could hardly imagine living in such a remote and desolate spot.
just
She could just imagine her mother''s look of horror.
She could just imagine her mother''s look of horror.
actually
I can''t actually imagine her falling for that trick.
I can''t actually imagine her falling for that trick.
always
I always imagined him following in his father''s footsteps.
I always imagined him following in his father''s footsteps.
fondly, naively
I had fondly imagined that riding a mule would be easy.
I had fondly imagined that riding a mule would be easy.
VERB + IMAGINE
can/could (well)
I can well imagine the atmosphere at home at this moment.
I can well imagine the atmosphere at home at this moment.
can/could not (possibly)
There''s more at stake here than you can possibly imagine.
There''s more at stake here than you can possibly imagine.
try to | be difficult to, be hard to, be impossible to
It is difficult to imagine Blackpool without its famous Tower.
It is difficult to imagine Blackpool without its famous Tower.
be easy to
PHRASES
let us imagine
Let us imagine what really might have happened.
Let us imagine what really might have happened.
2. see/hear/think sth that is not true/does not exist
ADV.
really, seriously
You don''t seriously imagine I''ll agree to that?
You don''t seriously imagine I''ll agree to that?
almost
I could almost imagine you were jealous.
I could almost imagine you were jealous.
actually | fondly, naively
VERB + IMAGINE
be easy to
PHRASES
be imagining things
Had I really heard a noise, or was I just imagining things?
Had I really heard a noise, or was I just imagining things?
real or imagined
He was always keen to avenge insults, real or imagined.
He was always keen to avenge insults, real or imagined.