Word
epitomize
Phoneticsepit·o·mize
/ɪˈpɪtəˌmaɪz/
UK spelling · epitomise
Definition
v. to be a perfect example of a quality or a type of thing. When something shows all the typical features of a style or group, it does this.
v. to serve as a perfect or typical example of a particular quality, concept, or class.
Examples
“These clean streets epitomize the city's charm.”
“The historic hotel's architecture and excellent service epitomize the luxury of a bygone era.”
“Her early novels epitomize the literary movement of the decade, blending sharp social commentary with a deeply intimate narrative style that influenced a generation of writers.”
Examples
simple
“These clean streets epitomize the city's charm.”
contextual
“The historic hotel's architecture and excellent service epitomize the luxury of a bygone era.”
complex
“Her early novels epitomize the literary movement of the decade, blending sharp social commentary with a deeply intimate narrative style that influenced a generation of writers.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“For many supporters, Xhaka epitomizes the resilient spirit Sunderland has demonstrated in defying skeptics who predicted immediate relegation for the team this season.” “Donald Trump epitomizes an individual driven predominantly by dark passions—hatred, anger, resentment, fear, and the desire for dominance—and he adeptly incites these feelings to rally support.” “More of a legend than just a rock band, Led Zeppelin has always epitomized the most arrogant, extravagant, and indulgent aspects of rock music.” “Zelig epitomizes mass capitalism: to market cars or films, one must grasp the public's preferences and emulate them while simultaneously elevating oneself above the crowd, akin to figures like Hearst or Chaplin, both of whom are featured prominently.” Etymology
From Greek ἐπιτομή, "a cutting short," via Latin epitome and English epitome, with the verbal suffix -ize attached in the early 17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/epitomize