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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- Epiphanies
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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").
Related words
Rhymes for Epiphany
See all rhymes for Epiphany →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.
