# emulate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈɛm.jʊ.leɪt/ · frequency rank #16,900

## Definitions
1. To attempt to equal or be the same as.
2. To copy or imitate, especially a person.
3. To feel a rivalry with; to be jealous of, to envy.
4. of a program or device: to imitate another program or device

## Etymology
First attested in 1586; borrowed from Latin aemulātus, perfect active participle of Latin aemulor (“to rival, emulate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **equate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/emulate-vs-equate)
- **emulator** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/emulate-vs-emulator)
- **educate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/educate-vs-emulate)
- **emirate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/emirate-vs-emulate)

## Common misspellings (9)
`emluate`, `emmulate`, `emualte`, `emulaet`, `emulatte`, `emullate`, `emultae`, `eumlate`, `meulate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/emulate