imaginative
adjective
imag·i·na·tive i-ˈma-jə-nə-tiv 
i-ˈmaj-nə-tiv;
-ˈma-jə-ˌnā-
1
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by imagination
an imaginative story
b
: tending to provoke, excite, or enliven the imagination
made some imaginative comments
c
: able to handle new or difficult problems : resourceful
a young and imaginative new leader
d
: full of freshness, originality, or vividness
imaginative designs
an imaginative menu
2
: given to imagining : having a lively imagination
a child's imaginative life
an imaginative filmmaker
4
: devoid of truth : false
Reports of the incident were wholly imaginative.
imaginatively adverb
imaginativeness noun
Examples of imaginative in a Sentence
She wrote an imaginative story about life on the planet Venus. The restaurant's menu is quite imaginative.
Recent Examples on the Web
The imaginative menu draws inspiration from Japanese Godai elements of earth, wind, fire, water and void. —
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Authorities have not yet officially disproven, for instance, some link between these three deaths, but any conceivable connection or sense of a coordinated series of assassinations quickly exceeds imaginative powers. —Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 22 Apr. 2026 Act Two is a little more musically imaginative. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026 Act 2 is a little more musically imaginative. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imaginative
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.
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Authorities have not yet officially disproven, for instance, some link between these three deaths, but any conceivable connection or sense of a coordinated series of assassinations quickly exceeds imaginative powers. —Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 22 Apr. 2026 Act Two is a little more musically imaginative. —Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026 Act 2 is a little more musically imaginative. —Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for imaginative
Cite this Entry
“Imaginative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/imaginative. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
imaginative
adjective
imag·i·na·tive im-ˈaj-(ə-)nət-iv
-ˈaj-ə-ˌnāt-
1
: of, relating to, or showing imagination
2
: having a lively imagination
imaginatively adverb
imaginativeness noun
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