epitome

noun

epit·o·me | \ i-ˈpi-tə-mē

Definition of epitome

1 : a typical or ideal example : embodiment the British monarchy itself is the epitome of tradition— Richard Joseph

2a : a summary of a written work

b : a brief presentation or statement of something

3 : brief or miniature form —usually used with in

Other Words from epitome Synonyms Epitome Has Greek Roots More Example Sentences Learn More about epitome

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Epitome Has Greek Roots

Epitome first appeared in print in 1520, when it was used to mean "summary." If someone asks you to summarize a long paper, you effectively cut it up, mentioning only the most important ideas in your synopsis, and the etymology of epitome reflects this process. The word descends from Greek epitemnein, meaning "to cut short," which in turn was formed from the prefix epi- and the verb temnein, which means "to cut." Your summary probably also presents all the key points of the original work, which may explain why epitome eventually came to be used for anything (such as a person or object) that is a clear or good example of an abstraction.

Examples of epitome in a Sentence

Terns, nicknamed sea swallows by fishermen, are superb flying machines, the epitome of beauty on the wing. — E. Vernon Laux, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2001 Manchester, then known as 'Cottonopolis' and perceived throughout the world as the epitome of the whirling fierceness of the industrial revolution. … — Roy Jenkins, Gladstone, (1995) 1997 Hamilton thought the bank was a fait accompli, but he had not reckoned on Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Jefferson, the lover of rural virtues, had a deep, almost visceral hatred of banks, the epitome of all that was urban. — John Steele Gordon, American Heritage, July/August 1990 I didn't tell him that, at the time, I thought the place to be the epitome of bourgeois comfort; in those days I thought that there was some connection between creative talent and penury. — Ishmael Reed, "August Wilson," 1987, in Writin' Is Fightin', 1988 the golden rule is often cited as the epitome of moral conduct: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” the prestigious prep school prides itself on being widely regarded as the epitome of tradition and old-fashioned values

Recent Examples on the Web

The epitome of this arrived during former Vice President Joe Biden’s segment, thanks to Isaac Larkin, a doctoral student at Northwestern. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "A Seven-Hour Case for a Real Climate Debate," 5 Sep. 2019 The epitome of the arrogance and contempt this extreme Brexiteer government has shown our democracy. — Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, "Amid Brexit crisis, House of Commons leader infuriates lawmakers with his body language," 4 Sep. 2019 Jennifer Aniston is pretty much the epitome of California cool. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "Jennifer Aniston Swears By This Gold Face-Sculpting Tool," 4 Sep. 2019 With an ice cream cone painted on her cheek and wearing a dress with colorful ice cream cones on it, 2-year-old Salwa Saleh, was the epitome of the ice cream social held Sunday in Hinsdale’s Burlington Park. — Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Hinsdale Hospital Foundation’s Junior Board serves up ice cream and fun," 26 Aug. 2019 From the early ’90s to 2006, the foursome of Tool stood as a rock-and-roll epitome when rock and roll was a social average. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Why Tool Could Be More Relevant Today Than Ever Before," 21 Aug. 2019 His collection earned him a place in the Guinness World Records, and it is now considered to be the epitome of all Star Wars collecting. — Alexander Huls, Popular Mechanics, "The Great Star Wars Heist," 7 Mar. 2019 Wearing the same shoes as Britney in the early-aughts was the epitome of cool, and her influence is still being felt 20 years later. — Tatum Dooley, Teen Vogue, "Opening Ceremony and Skechers Collaborated On a Sneaker That Britney Spears Made Popular," 16 Aug. 2019 Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea were the epitome of inconsistency, but still played some incredible football en-route to securing a top-four finish in the league. — SI.com, "Chelsea 2019/20 Season Preview: Strengths, Weaknesses, Key Man and Predictions," 7 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'epitome.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for epitome

epitome

noun

English Language Learners Definition of epitome

: a perfect example : an example that represents or expresses something very well

See the full definition for epitome in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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epitome

Definition of epitome

Other Words from epitome

Synonyms for epitome

Epitome Has Greek Roots

Examples of epitome in a Sentence

First Known Use of epitome

History and Etymology for epitome

English Language Learners Definition of epitome

epitome

Definition of epitome

Other Words from epitome

Synonyms for epitome

Epitome Has Greek Roots

Examples of epitome in a Sentence

First Known Use of epitome

History and Etymology for epitome

English Language Learners Definition of epitome

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