hallucinate
/həˈluː.sɪ.neɪt/
VERB
1. To perceive things that are not actually present
To experience sensory perceptions, such as seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, or tasting something that has no corresponding external reality.
1.1. Seeing things that do not exist
Describes experiencing visual images, figures, objects, or movements that are not actually present in the surrounding environment.
Synonyms
- see visions
- have visions
- experience visual hallucinations
- see things
- perceive unreal images
Antonyms
- perceive reality
- see clearly
- observe accurately
Examples
- Some individuals may hallucinate vivid images during episodes of sleep paralysis.
- Extreme fatigue can cause people to hallucinate fleeting shadows or movements in their peripheral vision.
- The patient began to hallucinate strange figures moving across the room.
Related Words
1.2. Hearing sounds or voices that are not present
Refers to experiencing auditory sensations, such as voices, conversations, music, or other sounds, without an actual external source.
Synonyms
- hear voices
- experience auditory hallucinations
- hear things
- perceive imaginary sounds
Antonyms
- hear accurately
- perceive actual sounds
Examples
- Patients experiencing delirium may hallucinate sounds or voices that are not present.
- He began to hallucinate conversations with people who were not in the room.
- The exhausted traveler thought he could hear someone calling his name.
Related Words
1.3. Experiencing false sensory perceptions due to illness or substances
Describes experiencing unreal sensory perceptions as a result of fever, delirium, sleep deprivation, neurological conditions, or the effects of certain psychoactive substances.
Synonyms
- experience hallucinations
- have hallucinations
- trip
- trip out
- experience perceptual distortions
Antonyms
- remain clear-headed
- perceive accurately
- stay lucid
Examples
- Excessive consumption of certain substances can cause a person to hallucinate.
- The patient's fever was so high that they began to hallucinate surreal scenes and beings.
- After several nights without sleep, he started to hallucinate.
Related Words
- delirium
- intoxication
- disorientation
- altered perception
- sensory distortion
- psychosis
- sleep deprivation