ENGLISH
REFERENCE

epiphany

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ɪˈpɪfəni// UK //ɪpˈɪfənˌi// epiphany

n. a moment when you suddenly understand something very important. It feels like a light bulb turning on in your head.

n. a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something. Often involves a transformative realization triggered by a commonplace occurrence.


SIMPLE

She had an epiphany about her career while walking in the park.

CONTEXTUAL

After weeks of struggling with the math problem, he had a sudden epiphany that revealed the solution.

COMPLEX

The protagonist experiences a profound epiphany in the final chapter, realizing that his pursuit of wealth has cost him his most valued relationships.

Origin

PIE word *h₁epi See epiphany.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'have' or 'experience' and the preposition 'about'.

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