If you describe someone or their ideas as imaginative, you are praising them because they are easily able to think of or create new or exciting things.
[approval]
...an imaginative writer.
...hundreds of cooking ideas and imaginative recipes.
They should adopt a more imaginative approach.
Synonyms: creative, original, inspired, enterprising More Synonyms of imaginative
imaginativelyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
The hotel is decorated imaginatively and attractively.
imaginative in British English
(ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv)
adjective
1.
produced by or indicative of a vivid or creative imagination
an imaginative story
2.
having a vivid imagination
Derived forms
imaginatively (imˈaginatively)
adverb
imaginativeness (imˈaginativeness)
noun
imaginative in American English
(ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv; ɪˈmædʒɪˌneɪtɪv)
adjective
1.
having, using, or showing imagination; having great creative powers
2.
given to imagining
3.
of or resulting from imagination
imaginative literature
Derived forms
imaginatively (iˈmaginatively)
adverb
imaginativeness (iˈmaginativeness)
noun
Word origin
ME imaginatif < OFr < ML imaginativus
Examples of 'imaginative' in a sentence
imaginative
It is no use hoping that an employer will make an imaginative leap about how your experience is useful.
The Sun (2017)
That means imaginative ideas like getting prisoners to pick fruit - and working out how people on the dole can put something back for their money.
The Sun (2016)
Neptune, which mentors your sign, supplies imaginative ideas and something you make at home could be a global success.
The Sun (2016)
He must win the prize for the least imaginative use of location and air miles.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This is one of the most imaginative and exciting.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Your imaginative ideas and realistic way of working out the costs wow bosses.
The Sun (2015)
The national resource of creative and imaginative skill is immense.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You miss the honesty and imaginative leaps when you return to adult theatre.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She keeps to herself and writes poetry and highly imaginative stories.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The union should take a more imaginative approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Your imaginative ideas add spice to your love life.
The Sun (2008)
You have the right mix of imaginative ideas and cool thinking to make extra money.
The Sun (2008)
You have the positive attitude and imaginative ideas that can open new work doors for you.
The Sun (2009)
The police must be more efficient in their use of resources and personnel and more imaginative in their use of technology.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It should also be linked to an imaginative use of our aid programme to build up economic opportunities in those countries.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Thinking for yourself is not only an intellectual exercise - it is an imaginative leap.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The result is beautifully written, highly imaginative and engrossing.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Your imaginative approach can make a long-term relationship feel like new.
The Sun (2013)
People who excel in their fields often think independently, take risks and are creative and imaginative.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
If that is too much of an imaginative leap, try looking across the ocean.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It made people worry about being different, imaginative and creative.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His imaginative leaps were instinctive, unexpected and at times magical.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A whole extra hour of his subtle and imaginative approach to business.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
For if adult life teaches us anything, it is an imaginative approach to when such relations do and do not count.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There were many more examples of young people wishing violence on the former education secretary, some of them in highly imaginative ways.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Last chance to see this hauntingly evocative and highly imaginative exploration of the scars that war leaves on our landscapes, societies and minds.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
imaginative
British English: imaginative ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone or their ideas as imaginative, you are praising them because they are easily able to think of or create new or exciting things.
...an imaginative writer.
American English: imaginative
Brazilian Portuguese: imaginativo
Chinese: 富于想像力的
European Spanish: imaginativo
French: plein d'imagination
German: fantasievoll
Italian: fantasioso
Japanese: 想像力に富んだ
Korean: 상상력이 뛰어난
European Portuguese: imaginativo
Latin American Spanish: imaginativo
Chinese translation of 'imaginative'
imaginative
(ɪˈmædʒɪnətɪv)
adj
[person]富于(於)想象的 (fù yú xiǎngxiàng de)
[idea, approach, solution]新颖(穎)的 (xīnyǐng de)
(adjective)
Definition
produced by or showing a creative imagination
hundreds of cooking ideas and imaginative recipes
Synonyms
creative
Like many creative people, he was never satisfied.
original
a chef with an original touch and a measure of inspiration
inspired
enterprising
an enterprising and hard-working young woman
fantastic
outlandish and fantastic images
clever
It's a very clever idea.
stimulating
The atmosphere was always stimulating.
vivid
ingenious
a truly ingenious invention
visionary
the visionary worlds created by fantasy writers
inventive
It inspired me to be more inventive with my cooking.