Fantasy vs. Imagine — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on May 6, 2024
Fantasy refers to a creative, often whimsical and elaborate idea or world not grounded in reality, while imagine is the mental process of forming new ideas or visualizing something not present.
Difference Between Fantasy and Imagine
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fantasy involves the creation of imaginative, often elaborate worlds or scenarios that are typically unrealistic, whereas imagining is the act of forming mental images of ideas, whether realistic or not.
Fantasy is often a specific genre of fiction characterized by magical elements and imaginative settings, while imagining is a broader cognitive activity that can involve creative, logical, or abstract thinking.
Fantasy generally implies indulgence in elaborate and fictional possibilities that are detached from reality, whereas imagining can include practical scenarios or plans that relate to real-life aspirations.
Fantasy is associated with escapism and storytelling, providing an avenue for exploring alternative worlds, while imagining is a creative thinking tool used for problem-solving, innovation, or artistic expression.
Fantasy is more about fully developed narratives or elaborate dreams that entertain, whereas imagining is about the mental process of forming ideas or concepts, not necessarily within a narrative framework.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Elaborate, fictional scenarios or worlds
Mental process of forming new ideas
Reality
Detached from reality
Can be based on reality or entirely fictional
Application
Often in fiction, art, daydreaming
Problem-solving, creative thinking, planning
Focus
Elaborate stories or magical elements
New concepts, mental visualization
Emotional Impact
Offers escapism and entertainment
Inspires creativity or solution-finding
Compare with Definitions
Fantasy
Creative world or story often detached from reality.
The novel unfolds in a fantasy world filled with dragons.
Imagine
Form mental images or concepts not currently present.
He imagined what his life would be like in ten years.
Fantasy
Elaborate mental escape from everyday life.
She found comfort in her fantasy of traveling the world.
Imagine
Create or invent something new mentally.
The artist imagined a sculpture made entirely of recycled plastic.
Fantasy
Genre of fiction with magical elements.
The film is a fantasy epic with wizards and mythical creatures.
Imagine
Visualize or foresee future possibilities.
The architect imagined a modern cityscape.
Fantasy
Daydream or reverie involving the imagination.
He drifted off into a fantasy about winning the lottery.
Imagine
Picture oneself in a specific role or scenario.
She imagined herself performing on stage.
Fantasy
Unrealistic but desirable notion or plan.
Starting his own island resort was just a fantasy.
Imagine
Envision outcomes for practical or artistic purposes.
The director imagined how the final scene would look.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction set in a fictional universe, often inspired by real world myth and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama.
Imagine
To form a mental picture or image of
Imagined a better life abroad.
Fantasy
The faculty or activity of imagining impossible or improbable things
His researches had moved into the realms of fantasy
A fantasy world
Imagine
To think or suppose; conjecture
I imagine you're right.
Fantasy
A fantasia.
Imagine
To have a notion of or about without adequate foundation; fancy or believe
She imagines herself to be a true artist.
Fantasy
Imagine the occurrence of; fantasize about
It is ludicrous to fantasy ‘disinventing’ the hydrogen bomb
Imagine
To employ the imagination.
Fantasy
The creative imagination; unrestrained fancy.
Imagine
To have a belief or make a guess.
Fantasy
Something, such as an invention, that is a creation of the fancy.
Imagine
(transitive) To form a mental image of something; to envision or create something in one's mind.
Try to imagine a pink elephant.
Fantasy
A capricious or fantastic idea; a conceit.
Imagine
(transitive) To believe in something created by one's own mind.
She imagined that the man wanted to kill her.
Fantasy
A genre of fiction or other artistic work characterized by fanciful or supernatural elements.
Imagine
(transitive) to assume
I imagine that he will need to rest after such a long flight.
Fantasy
A work of this genre.
Imagine
(transitive) to conjecture or guess
I cannot even imagine what you are up to!
The board imagines the merger will increase profits by 25%
Fantasy
An imagined event or sequence of mental images, such as a daydream, usually fulfilling a wish or psychological need.
Imagine
(transitive) to use one's imagination
Imagine that we were siblings.
Fantasy
An unrealistic or improbable supposition.
Imagine
To contrive in purpose; to scheme; to devise.
Fantasy
(Music) See fantasia.
Imagine
Used to mock some idea.
Imagine thinking that would work.
Fantasy
A coin issued especially by a questionable authority and not intended for use as currency.
Imagine
(fandom slang) A short fanfic or prompt placing a reader insert in a novel scenario with a character or celebrity.
Fantasy
(Obsolete) A hallucination.
Imagine
To form in the mind a notion or idea of; to form a mental image of; to conceive; to produce by the imagination.
In the night, imagining some fear,How easy is a bush supposed a bear!
Fantasy
Relating to or being a game in which participants act as owners of imaginary sports teams whose personnel consists of actual players selected from a professional sports league and team performance is determined by the combined statistics of the players.
Imagine
To represent to one's self; to think; to believe.
Fantasy
To imagine; visualize.
Imagine
To form images or conceptions; to conceive; to devise.
Fantasy
That which comes from one's imagination.
Imagine
To think; to suppose.
My sister is not so defenseless leftAs you imagine.
Fantasy
(literature) The literary genre generally dealing with themes of magic and the supernatural, imaginary worlds and creatures, etc.
Imagine
Form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case;
Can you conceive of him as the president?
Fantasy
A fantastical design.
Imagine
Expect, believe, or suppose;
I imagine she earned a lot of money with her new novel
I thought to find her in a bad state
He didn't think to find her in the kitchen
I guess she is angry at me for standing her up
Fantasy
(slang) The drug gamma-hydroxybutyric acid.
Fantasy
To fantasize (about).
Fantasy
(obsolete) To have a fancy for; to be pleased with; to like.
Fantasy
(transitive) To imagine; to conceive mentally.
Fantasy
Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice; humor.
Is not this something more than fantasy ?
A thousand fantasiesBegin to throng into my memory.
Fantasy
Fantastic designs.
Embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread.
Fantasy
To have a fancy for; to be pleased with; to like; to fancy.
Which he doth most fantasy.
Fantasy
Imagination unrestricted by reality;
A schoolgirl fantasy
Fantasy
Fiction with a large amount of fantasy in it;
She made a lot of money writing romantic fantasies
Fantasy
Something many people believe that is false;
They have the illusion that I am very wealthy
Common Curiosities
Is fantasy always fictional?
Generally, yes. Fantasy involves storytelling or daydreaming detached from reality.
Can imagining lead to fantasy?
Yes, one can imagine something that develops into a fantasy world.
Is fantasy limited to literature?
No, it can be part of art, film, games, and daydreams.
Is fantasy the same as imagining?
No, fantasy refers to elaborate, unrealistic stories, while imagining is a cognitive process of forming new concepts.
Can fantasy help with creativity?
Absolutely, fantasy can inspire new ways of thinking and storytelling.
Is imagining only for fictional ideas?
No, imagining can also involve realistic concepts, plans, or problem-solving.
Is imagining restricted to visual ideas?
No, it can involve all senses, such as auditory or tactile concepts.
Can imagining help with problem-solving?
Yes, it's crucial for visualizing solutions and planning.
Is fantasy productive?
It can be, especially in artistic creation or fostering innovative thinking.
Can you imagine multiple outcomes at once?
Yes, the mind can imagine a range of possibilities simultaneously.
Does imagining help with creative thinking?
Yes, it's a fundamental part of creativity and innovation.
Can you imagine without engaging in fantasy?
Yes, you can imagine practical or realistic scenarios without elaborate fantasy.
Is it possible to imagine something and not fantasize about it?
Yes, imagining can be purely practical or realistic without becoming a fantasy.
Does fantasy always imply indulgence?
It often involves some level of indulgence in creative or fictional ideas.
Is fantasy useful for adults or only children?
Both. Adults also benefit from fantasy for creativity and entertainment.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
