To emulate means to try to match or surpass someone you admire by imitating their methods, skills, or qualities. When you emulate someone, you study what makes them successful and work to achieve similar excellence in your own way, adapting their approach to fit your situation.

A young basketball player might emulate her favorite professional athlete by practicing the same footwork drills and developing the same work ethic. A student might emulate a brilliant scientist by adopting her careful approach to experiments and her habit of asking challenging questions. The key is that emulation involves genuine effort to reach the same level of achievement, not just mimicking surface behaviors.

Emulation is different from simple imitation. When you imitate someone, you might copy their accent or mannerisms for fun. When you emulate them, you're trying to develop real skills and qualities that led to their success. If you emulate Benjamin Franklin's curiosity and discipline, you're not dressing in colonial clothes. You're cultivating the habits that made him successful.