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noun Uncommon

Epiphany

ih-PIH-fuh-nee

Epiphany (noun) means a sudden, striking flash of insight or understanding. Example: “Halfway through the lecture, she had an epiphany about how to fix her code.”

noun
1
A sudden, striking flash of insight or understanding.
"Halfway through the lecture, she had an epiphany about how to fix her code."
"His epiphany came while washing dishes — he suddenly knew he wanted to change careers."
2
Epiphany: a Christian feast, celebrated on January 6, marking the revealing of Jesus Christ to the Magi.
"Many countries celebrate Epiphany with parades and gift-giving on January 6."

How to Use Epiphany

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden realization that changes how you see something — or, capitalized, the Christian holiday on January 6.

Common pairings
have an epiphany a moment of epiphany sudden epiphany

Word Forms

Epiphanies plural

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Fill the Gap

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Halfway through the lecture, she had an _____ about how to fix her code.

Etymology

From Greek epiphaneia, "manifestation" or "appearance" — from epi- ("upon") + phainein ("to show").

Origin: Greek

Related Words

Rhymes for Epiphany

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “Epiphany” mean?

The word “Epiphany” means a sudden, striking flash of insight or understanding. In plain terms, a sudden realization that changes how you see something — or, capitalized, the Christian holiday on January 6.

How do you pronounce “Epiphany”?

“Epiphany” is pronounced ih-PIH-fuh-nee (/ɪˈpɪfəni/ in IPA).

How do you use “Epiphany” in a sentence?

Here is “Epiphany” used in a sentence: “Halfway through the lecture, she had an epiphany about how to fix her code.”

What part of speech is “Epiphany”?

“Epiphany” is a noun.

Where does the word “Epiphany” come from?

The word “Epiphany” comes from Greek. From Greek epiphaneia, "manifestation" or "appearance" — from epi- ("upon") + phainein ("to show").

Is “Epiphany” a common word?

“Epiphany” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Epiphany” have?

“Epiphany” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sudden, striking flash of insight or understanding.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial