simulate

simulate — verb

1. to show a feeling, expression, or physical condition that is not real, usually t

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to show a feeling, expression, or physical condition that is not real, usually to create a false impression or gain an advantage — for example, simulating interest in a boring meeting, or simulating an injury to get sympathy.

例句

Dario simulated enthusiasm for the camping trip even though he hated the outdoors.

simulate + emotion (enthusiasm, interest) to hide true feelings

The captured spy simulated a coughing fit to avoid answering the guards.

同義詞
  • fake

    less formal, used in everyday speech

  • feign

    more formal and literary, common in written narratives

  • pretend

    usually followed by a clause or to-infinitive ('pretend to be asleep'), while simulate takes a noun object

反義詞
  • express

    to show a genuine feeling openly

文法句型

simulate + noun (an emotion, a symptom, a reaction)

用法筆記

The object is typically a feeling (interest, enthusiasm), a physical symptom (pain, a cough), or a reaction (surprise, fear). The person doing the simulating knows the display is false — it is deliberate, not accidental.

常見錯誤

❌She simulated to be interested.
✅She simulated interest.
💡simulate takes a noun object, not an infinitive clause.

2. to build a computer model, a physical setup, or a scenario that behaves like a r

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to build a computer model, a physical setup, or a scenario that behaves like a real-world system, process, or situation, typically so that people can study it, train with it, or test predictions — for example, simulating a thunderstorm in a laboratory, or simulating a country's economy on a computer.

例句

Flight schools use computer programs to simulate emergency landings for trainee pilots.

simulate + scenario for training purposes

Élise's research team simulated the climate of ancient Mars using a supercomputer.

同義詞
  • model

    more technical, often implies mathematical or computational representation

  • replicate

    suggests recreating an exact copy of a process or system

  • emulate

    focuses on matching performance or behaviour, not necessarily appearance

文法句型

simulate + noun (a system, a process, conditions)

be simulated + prepositional phrase

用法筆記

The subject is usually a researcher, engineer, designer, or organization. The passive form ('the flight conditions were simulated') is common in scientific and technical writing. Do not confuse with 'imitate,' which focuses on copying appearance or sound rather than recreating a full system.

常見錯誤

❌The program simulates like a real flight environment.
✅The program simulates a real flight environment.
💡simulate is transitive; do not add the preposition 'like.'