emulate

1 of 2

verb

em·​u·​late ˈem-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce emulate (audio)
-yü-
emulated; emulating

transitive verb

1
a
: to strive to equal or excel
b
: imitate
especially : to imitate by means of an emulator
2
: to equal or approach equality with

emulate

2 of 2

adjective

em·​u·​late ˈem-yə-lət How to pronounce emulate (audio)
obsolete
: emulous sense 1b
pricked on by a most emulate prideWilliam Shakespeare

Did you know?

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but we’ll posit that emulation is even more so. What’s the difference between imitating and emulating? Sometimes not a thing: emulate can be used as a synonym of imitate, as in “a painter who emulates her teacher’s style.” But more often, emulate is about trying to equal or surpass someone you admire by striving to master what they’ve accomplished. The word was adopted in the late 16th century from a form of the Latin word aemulārī, meaning “to vie with; to rival; to imitate.” Imitate was adopted about fifty years earlier from a form of the Latin word imitārī, meaning “to follow as a pattern; to copy.” Emulate emulated its success.

Examples of emulate in a Sentence

Verb If you are talking to someone younger, do not condescend. If you are talking to someone older, back up feelings with facts and never be in such a rush to make your point that you forget the art of listening. And please, no one try to emulate the histrionic, discursive style of any talking heads you see on television. William Norwich, Vogue, 9 Sept. 2008
Although some schools are postponing new projects because of the faltering economy, others are forging ahead with plans to emulate freshman programs that have long existed at some of the nation's oldest colleges. Jeninne Lee-St. John, Time, 27 Oct. 2008
I started out emulating Chandler in that first book, maybe the first book and a half, because I was in my novitiate, and whenever I wasn't clear on what to do I would actively think about Chandler and what Marlow would have done. Robert B. Parker et al., Colloquium on Crime, 1986
She grew up emulating her sports heroes. artists emulating the style of their teachers
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
But Donaldson is also emulating the world’s most famous CEOs by bringing a new meaning to home office. Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024 In lakes that are clear, such as the Great Lakes and natural oligotrophic lakes of the north, baits that emulate the natural color of the baitfish in the system should be tried first. David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024 In other words, Paulson has the time, wealth, and resources to build her downlines and to present a façade of luxury and success that other sellers might envy and want to emulate. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024 Released in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, this documentary shows Swift singing every Folklore song live in a woodsy cabin in the Hudson Valley, building on the cozy cottagecore aesthetic that emulated our lives in isolation. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 14 Mar. 2024 However, the townhouse is not even a decade old and was intentionally designed to emulate its landmarked neighbors. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 Her onscreen and real life husband Ryan Piers Williams looked handsome in a classic black tux. 04 of 09 Greta Gerwig Director Greta Gerwig also got the shimmering memo in this gown that emulated an Oscar statue itself. Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 This shift isn't about women wanting to emulate male guitar legends like Eric Clapton, but about establishing their identity in the music world, inspiring future generations to admire female musicians for their unique styles. Vladimir Duthiers, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 Bona will try to emulate Clark one more time as one of 15 candidates for the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year — the same award Clark won last year on his way to the NBA. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'emulate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

borrowed from Latin aemulātus, past participle of aemulārī "to vie with, rival, imitate," derivative of aemulus "rivaling, emulous"

Adjective

borrowed from Latin aemulātus — more at emulate entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1602, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of emulate was in 1582

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Dictionary Entries Near emulate

Cite this Entry

“Emulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emulate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

emulate

verb
em·​u·​late
ˈem-yə-ˌlāt
emulated; emulating
: to try to be like or better than
emulator
-ˌlāt-ər
noun

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