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illusion

illusion

319 4.6
A false idea or appearance that makes you think something is true
  • noun
  • /ɪˈluːʒən/
translation icon : ilusión
  • Actually it's, it's an illusion that we create, right?
  • create the illusion of
  • the illusion of control
  • just an illusion

But actually, if time is an illusion, that's Einstein.

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Examples

  • We have to go all the way to the top because our freedom is an illusion.

  • And if everyone believes the illusion, it becomes reality.

  • And it was just a more wonderful illusion to live in.

  • The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The illusion is that the finish line is the destination, but the act itself is the destination.

  • But they are under the illusion I'm a writer.

  • And both of those are illusions, basically.

  • The Kanizsa square works to create the illusion of a square that is not really there.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Both sides are eager to sustain the illusion of progress produced by the recent presidential summits.

    Academic text (1999)
  • The magician's performance created an illusion that he could make objects disappear.

Synonyms

fantasy
vsillusion
453 3.7

A wrong idea that many people believe

is about a misleading appearance or perception rather than fanciful imagination
delusion
vsillusion
199 6.7

A strong false belief that someone still has even when it is not true

is a misleading appearance or idea rather than a stubborn conviction
semblance
vsillusion
38 7.9

An appearance that looks normal but hides the real situation

focuses more on a false internal perception than just outward looks
mirage
vsillusion
22 7.7

An idea or hope that seems real but is not possible

is about deceptive perception generally, not only unattainable hopes
misperception
vsillusion
12 6.8

A wrong idea about something

relies more on a deceptive appearance than on misreading information
hallucination
vsillusion
8 7.2

A false idea that people think is true

is a misleading appearance or idea rather than an internal sensory error
phantasm
vsillusion
  • Literature
4 9.9

A thing that seems real but is only in the mind, like a ghost

is a broader misleading idea or perception rather than a vivid apparition
false belief
vsillusion
3 5.6

An idea that is not true because of wrong thinking or misunderstanding

is more about how something seems rather than the reasoning behind it
erroneous belief
vsillusion
1 6.5

A belief based on false information

is about how something appears, not only about wrong information
misbelief
vsillusion
7.0

An idea that is wrong

focuses on a misleading appearance or impression more than simple error
phantasy
vsillusion
  • Archaic
9.9

A false idea that many people believe

emphasizes a deceptive appearance or perception rather than wide acceptance

Antonyms

1.0

A fact that shows how things really are

1.4

The way things really are, not how we imagine or wish

Compounds

An image that tricks your eyes into seeing something not real

How Real

misconception
75 4.2
illusion
319 4.6
delusion
199 6.7

Surface Forms

illusion singular
illusions plural

Morphology

illusion = illusive (opaque) = illus + ion

The root 'illus' is not a standalone English word, and the meaning of 'illusion' is not directly derived from any recognizable English base word.

Etymology

Illusion comes from Latin parts in- and ludere which mean 'to play' or 'to mock', so the original idea was a kind of 'play' on the mind. That's why an illusion is a false sight or belief that 'plays' with how you see or think.