epiphany
ih-PIF-uh-nee
/ɪˈpɪfəni/
A moment of sudden, intuitive revelation or insight.
Describes a dramatic, life-changing or clarity-inducing realization, not just a minor thought.
The story behind the word. In ancient Greece, epiphaneia described a divine manifestation—when a god revealed themselves to humans. Modern literary usage was popularized by James Joyce to mean a sudden spiritual or intellectual illumination.
Word relationships
- revelation: Revelation implies truth being uncovered, while epiphany highlights the sudden strike of understanding.
- confusion: Confusion is a state of feeling lost or lacking clarity.
Commonly confused with
- apiphany: Apiphany is a common misspelling; epiphany is the correct spelling.
Word family
- epiphanic (adjective): Relating to or having the character of an epiphany.
Collocations
- sudden epiphany
- moment of epiphany
- experience an epiphany
Idioms & expressions
- flash of insight
Example sentences
- "While staring at the steam rising from his kettle, the engineer experienced a sudden epiphany regarding engine design." Scientific breakthrough
- "Her epiphany came quietly while walking alone: she needed to abandon corporate law to pursue painting." Personal growth
Memory hook
EPIPHANY sounds like 'A PIP ON THE KNEE'—a sharp strike of sudden awareness! Sudden flash of divine understanding.
When not to use
Do not use for routine realizations like remembering where you left your keys.
Fun facts
- James Joyce made 'epiphany' a core literary device in modern fiction.
Explore more words
enlightenment, insightful, breakthrough, watershed, intuition, catharsis
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