emulate

1 of 2

verb

em·​u·​late ˈem-yə-ˌlāt 

-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 

obsolete

: emulous sense 1b

pricked on by a most emulate pride

—William 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.

Synonyms

Verb

• add up (to)
• amount (to)
• come (to)
• correspond (to)
• equal

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

Simard and Hilty have aimed to emulate this closeness, particularly during their preview run in Chicago. —Emily Burns, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024

His own creepy nature doesn't exactly emulate the joyful holiday, but luckily, rag doll Sally (Catherine O'Hara) is there to make everything okay again. —Sydni Ellis, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024

These elements foster empathy, resilience, and growth—qualities that no AI, however sophisticated, can truly emulate. —Chris Westfall, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024

Petrenko is tracing a different path, one that young conductors should emulate. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024

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

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Kids Definition

emulate

verb

em·​u·​late

ˈem-yə-ˌlāt

emulated; emulating

: to try to be like or better than

emulator

-ˌlāt-ər

noun