Definition of emulatenext
1
as in to come (to)
to be the same in meaning or effect what they offered at the new resort didn't begin to emulate the kind of pampering we were used to getting at the resort that closed down

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2
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior a pro athlete who has often said that children should emulate their parents—not him

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of emulate Running back air yards can provide real value Last year, McCaffrey totaled more air yards than any running back in a season since David Johnson in 2016, which means CMC ran vertical routes beyond the line of scrimmage, emulating a wide receiver. Ben Gretch, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Yet instead of reckoning with the parallels, right-wing pastors were urging Christians to emulate the intensity and all-in dedication of the jihadists. Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026 Iridescent flashes and gold gemstones emulate deep-sea treasures. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026 Instead, Brink and stylist Shiona Turini consistently blend masculine tailoring and feminine silhouettes to create looks worth emulating all autumn long. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emulate
Verb
  • Sure, pedicures get more playtime over the summer, but that doesn’t mean your toes don’t deserve the same attention once temperatures drop.
    Marianne Mychaskiw, Allure, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Max leaves less than three hours before the new charter’s arrival, which means that Sandy is immediately on the phone with Norma from Yachting Staffing.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But in a case of life imitating art, the show’s entire publicity strategy was inadvertently wrecked by a real-life aristocrat, after reports leaked that Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, was being eyed for a role in the series.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But from Ossoff, who cuts a more wholesome figure and doesn’t imitate the president, the attacks are more surprising—and therefore perhaps more effective.
    Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Williams ripped off a 49-yard kickoff return in the first preseason game, and that matched his tape from last year.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The soft, stretchy fabric moves with you across terminals without bunching or binding, and because the top and bottom are already matched, getting dressed at the crack of dawn requires zero thought.
    Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • It's got plenty of helpful features, such as automatic two-sided printing as well as copy and scan capabilities.
    George Yang, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The art establishment often drew on, if not directly copied, Kusama’s work.
    Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • More demand, plus a limited supply of teams, equals higher prices.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That equals roughly $117,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States.
    Carolyn Bourdeaux, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At the University of Mississippi, a video went viral of a Black woman surrounded by white students and the white students mimicking ape-like motions toward the woman and making monkey-like calls.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers have developed a six-legged robot that can learn to walk by mimicking a stick insect’s movement patterns.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The decision also signified the end of Adam’s time on the Northwestern.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This theory gained more popularity after Swift was spotted out in London last month, debuting a fresh haircut which has historically signified a new era in the Taylor Swift Cinematic Universe.
    Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Emulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emulate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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