beyond imagination
Expressing something unimaginable
Use beyond imagination for something extreme or difficult to picture mentally.
The damage was beyond imagination
How to use prepositions with imagination
Imagination combines with several prepositions depending on meaning. Some combinations are fixed expressions, while others are less natural in modern English.
Quick answer
Common prepositions with imagination
Beyond imagination is a common expression meaning extremely great or difficult to imagine. In the imagination refers to thoughts or mental pictures. With imagination describes a creative manner. By imagination is uncommon in modern English except in special contexts. Imagination of is limited and usually appears in phrases like the imagination of children.
The scale was beyond imagination
The scene existed only in the imagination
She decorated the room with imagination
The scene existed only in the imagination
She decorated the room with imagination
Choose the pattern by meaning
These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.
in the imagination
Referring to mental images or ideas
Use in the imagination for ideas that exist mentally rather than physically.
The creature lives only in the imagination
with imagination
Describing creative behaviour
Use with imagination to describe doing something creatively.
The children solved the problem with imagination
the imagination of + group
Showing whose imagination
Use imagination of to identify the people whose creativity or ideas are discussed.
The story captured the imagination of young readers
See the difference in context
The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.
Construction
Example
Meaning
imagination of
The imagination of the artist impressed everyone.
Shows whose imagination is being discussed.
beyond imagination
The view was beyond imagination.
Means impossible or difficult to imagine.
with imagination
She writes with imagination and humour.
Describes a creative manner.
in imagination
He travelled the world in imagination.
Refers to something happening mentally.
by imagination
The phrase by imagination sounds unnatural in most modern contexts.
Usually nonstandard or very rare compared with in imagination or through imagination.
Common mistakes
Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.
Using by imagination in ordinary contexts
English normally uses in imagination or through imagination instead.
✕ She escaped by imagination. ✓ She escaped in imagination.Confusing with imagination and imagination of
With imagination describes manner; imagination of identifies the owner of the imagination.
✕ the book was written imagination of the author ✓ the book was written with imaginationMissing the article in fixed phrases
In the imagination is often more natural when referring to a shared mental picture.
✕ in imagination of the public ✓ in the imagination of the publicQuick practice
Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.
1. The beauty of the palace was ___ imagination.
2. The hero exists only ___ the imagination of readers.
3. She approached the task ___ imagination.
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Frequently asked questions
Is beyond imagination a fixed phrase?
Yes. It is a common expression meaning extremely impressive, shocking, or difficult to imagine.
Can I use by imagination?
It is rare and usually sounds unnatural in everyday English. In imagination or through imagination is usually better.
What does imagination of mean?
It usually identifies the person or group whose imagination is being discussed, such as the imagination of children.
Related preposition guides
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