noun
Common
epic
EHP-ihk
Epic (noun) means a long narrative poem or story celebrating the heroic deeds of a legendary figure. Example: “The class read an ancient epic about a hero's long journey home.”
noun
1
A long narrative poem or story celebrating the heroic deeds of a legendary figure.
"The class read an ancient epic about a hero's long journey home."
"The poet spent years writing an epic about the founding of her city."
"Homer's "Odyssey" is one of the most famous epics in Western literature."
adjective
1
Impressively large, heroic, or grand in scale.
"It was an epic feast, with dishes piled high across the long table."
"The film's epic battle scenes took months to film."
"We went on an epic road trip across three countries."
How to use epic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA grand, heroic story — or, informally, anything impressively big or memorable.
When to use it
The informal sense ("that party was epic") is casual slang, common since the 2000s.
Common pairings
epic battle
epic fail
epic journey
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Word forms
- Plural
- epics
- Comparative
- more epic
- Superlative
- most epic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The class read an ancient _____ about a hero's long journey home.
Etymology
From Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, related to epos, "word, story."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “epic” mean?
The word “epic” means a long narrative poem or story celebrating the heroic deeds of a legendary figure. In plain terms, a grand, heroic story — or, informally, anything impressively big or memorable.
How do you pronounce “epic”?
“Epic” is pronounced EHP-ihk (/ˈɛp.ɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “epic” in a sentence?
Here is “epic” used in a sentence: “Homer's "Odyssey" is one of the most famous epics in Western literature.”
What part of speech is “epic”?
Depending on how it is used, “epic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “epic” come from?
The word “epic” comes from Latin. From Latin epicus, from Greek epikos, related to epos, "word, story.".
Is “epic” a common word?
“Epic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “epic” have?
“Epic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long narrative poem or story celebrating the heroic deeds of a legendary figure.
What is the difference between an epic and a saga?
An epic is a long narrative poem celebrating the heroic deeds of a legendary figure. A saga is a long prose story, originally from Norse and Icelandic tradition, often following a family or hero across generations.
What is the difference between 'epic' as a noun and as an adjective?
As a noun, an epic is a long heroic poem or story on a grand scale. As an adjective, epic means impressively large, heroic, or grand, as in 'an epic journey.'
Is it correct to use 'epic' to mean 'excellent' in casual speech?
Using epic to mean 'excellent' or 'amazing,' as in 'that was epic,' is common informal slang and perfectly acceptable in casual conversation. In formal writing, it is better to keep epic for its senses of grand scale or heroic narrative.
What are examples of classic epics?
Classic epics include the ancient Greek poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. These long narrative poems recount the heroic deeds and adventures of legendary figures, which is the defining feature of the epic form.
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