illusion
illusion — noun
1. A mistaken way of thinking about something, based on what someone wants to belie
A mistaken way of thinking about something, based on what someone wants to believe rather than what is actually true.
Christopher was under the illusion that the exam would be easy, so he barely studied.
under the illusion that + clause for false belief
The idea that fame alone brings happiness is an illusion many celebrities eventually disprove.
Diya had cherished the illusion that her hometown would never change, until she returned after ten years.
Kwame finally shattered his illusion of becoming a professional musician when he heard the other candidates play.
- delusion
stronger and more pathological than illusion; a delusion is a fixed false belief often linked to mental illness
- misconception
more neutral; a wrong understanding based on incomplete knowledge, without the wishful thinking implied in illusion
- fantasy
a pleasant imagined situation that one knows is not real; an illusion is believed to be true, at least temporarily
- misapprehension
formal term for a misunderstanding, less emotional than illusion
文法句型
under the illusion that + clause
harbor/hold/cherish an illusion
用法筆記
Commonly paired with the phrase 'under the illusion that' to describe someone wrongly believing something. Distinguish from sense 4 (DECEPTION): sense 1 describes a person's own mistaken belief, while sense 4 describes the act of deliberately misleading someone else.
常見錯誤
2. Something that appears to be one thing when it is actually another, typically be
Something that appears to be one thing when it is actually another, typically because of how the eye or brain processes visual information.
From the hilltop, the distant lake looked close enough to touch — a simple illusion caused by the clear air.
The optical illusion made two identical grey squares look like different shades.
optical illusion — visual trick affecting perception
Mirrors on the restaurant walls gave the illusion that the small room was much larger than it actually was.
Allison stared at the desert mirage, a shimmering illusion of water that kept moving farther away.
- mirage
a specific type of visual illusion caused by hot air reflecting light, especially in deserts; narrower than illusion
- trick of the light
informal phrase for a visual effect that briefly deceives the eye
- apparition
a ghost-like figure that appears suddenly; implies the supernatural, unlike the neutral optical sense of illusion
- reality
what is actually present, without any deceptive appearance
文法句型
illusion of + noun
optical illusion
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (FALSE BELIEF), this sense refers to a physical or visual phenomenon rather than a mistaken mental idea. The most common subtype is the 'optical illusion', which involves the visual system. The preposition 'of' typically introduces what seems to be present: 'an illusion of depth', 'an illusion of movement'.
常見錯誤
3. A clever performance in which a magician uses rapid hand movements or hidden dev
A clever performance in which a magician uses rapid hand movements or hidden devices to create the impression of doing something impossible.
The magician's next illusion made a coin vanish and then reappear behind a child's ear.
Gabriel practiced the card illusion for months before he could make it look effortless on stage.
practice / perfect an illusion (magician context)
The grand finale was a stunning illusion in which the performer seemed to float above the stage.
Even from the front row, Lara could not figure out how the street performer's rope illusion worked.
- trick
a broader, everyday term for any deceptive act; 'illusion' is more specific to magic performances
- sleight of hand
a specific type of illusion that depends on fast finger movements; often used for close-up magic
- conjuring trick
British term for a magic trick, slightly old-fashioned
文法句型
perform an illusion
用法筆記
In this sense, 'illusion' is a countable noun describing a single performance trick. It differs from sense 2 (DECEPTIVE APPEARANCE) because a magic trick involves deliberate human action intended to entertain, whereas sense 2 describes a natural visual misinterpretation.
常見錯誤
4. The process of deliberately giving people a wrong impression so that they believ
The process of deliberately giving people a wrong impression so that they believe something untrue.
The company maintained the illusion of success by publishing fake financial reports for years.
maintain / keep up the illusion of [something]
The dictator's government spent heavily on creating the illusion that every citizen supported the regime.
Renata saw through the illusion of friendship when her colleague began spreading rumours behind her back.
Advertising often relies on the illusion that buying a certain product will instantly transform your life.
- deception
more general term for any act of making someone believe something false; illusion in this sense implies a sustained false appearance
- pretence
British spelling; emphasises the act of behaving as if something is true when it is not
- facade
a false outward appearance that hides the true nature of something; similar to illusion but more architectural in metaphor
- honesty
the quality of being truthful and not misleading others
- transparency
openness and clarity, leaving no room for false impressions
文法句型
an illusion of + noun
maintain/keep up an illusion
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (FALSE BELIEF), where the person themselves is mistaken, sense 4 involves someone actively misleading others. This sense is uncountable and typically used with 'the' rather than 'an'. Common in political, corporate, and social commentary contexts.