verb

match or surpass (a person or achievement), typically by imitation.

most rulers wished to emulate Alexander the Great

imitate,copy,reproduce,mimic,mirror,echo,follow,model oneself on,take as a model,take as an example,match,equal,parallel,be the equal of,be on a par with,be in the same league as,come near to,come close to,approximate,compete with,contend with,rival,vie with,surpass