ENGLISH
REFERENCE

epic

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɛpɪk// UK //ˈɛpɪk// epic Archaic Informal Slang

n. a long story, movie, or poem that follows the adventures of heroes and covers a long period of time. You use this for stories that feel huge and important.

n. a long narrative poem or literary work, typically derived from oral tradition, which narrates the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures. Often used metaphorically for any large-scale production or event.


SIMPLE

The movie is a three-hour historical epic.

CONTEXTUAL

The director spent five years filming his desert epic, hiring thousands of extras for the battle scenes.

COMPLEX

While the Iliad remains the foundational epic of Western literature, modern novelists often borrow its structure to frame contemporary family sagas as grand, multi-generational struggles.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used as a modifier before other nouns, such as 'epic poem' or 'epic proportions'.

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