noun
Icarus
IH-kuh-ruhs
Icarus (noun) means In Greek myth, the youth who flew too close to the sun on wings of feathers and wax, causing them to melt, and fell into the sea; used to describe someone whose overreaching ambition leads to their downfall. Example: “The failed startup was described as a modern Icarus, undone by its own hubris.”
noun
1
In Greek myth, the youth who flew too close to the sun on wings of feathers and wax, causing them to melt, and fell into the sea; used to describe someone whose overreaching ambition leads to their downfall.
"The failed startup was described as a modern Icarus, undone by its own hubris."
"Like Icarus, he ignored every warning and flew too close to the sun."
How to use Icarus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA mythical figure whose name is now shorthand for overambition that leads to a dramatic fall.
Common pairings
a modern Icarus
fly too close to the sun
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Icarus.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The failed startup was described as a modern _____, undone by its own hubris.
Etymology
From Latin Icarus, from Greek Ikaros, the mythological son of Daedalus.
Rhymes for Icarus
See all rhymes for Icarus →Frequently asked questions
What does “Icarus” mean?
The word “Icarus” means in Greek myth, the youth who flew too close to the sun on wings of feathers and wax, causing them to melt, and fell into the sea; used to describe someone whose overreaching ambition leads to their downfall. In plain terms, a mythical figure whose name is now shorthand for overambition that leads to a dramatic fall.
How do you pronounce “Icarus”?
“Icarus” is pronounced IH-kuh-ruhs (/ˈɪkəɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Icarus” in a sentence?
Here is “Icarus” used in a sentence: “The failed startup was described as a modern Icarus, undone by its own hubris.”
What part of speech is “Icarus”?
“Icarus” is a noun.
Where does the word “Icarus” come from?
The word “Icarus” comes from Latin. From Latin Icarus, from Greek Ikaros, the mythological son of Daedalus.
