epitome

noun

epit·o·me i-ˈpi-tə-mē

Synonyms of epitome next

: a typical or ideal example : embodiment

the British monarchy itself is the epitome of tradition—

Richard Joseph

: a summary of a written work

: a brief presentation or statement of something

: brief or miniature form

—usually used with in

epitomic

ˌe-pə-ˈtä-mik

adjective

or epitomical

ˌe-pə-ˈtä-mi-kəl

Did you know?

Epitome Has Greek Roots

Epitome first appeared in print in the early 16th century, 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, and the etymology of epitome reflects this process: it comes from Greek epitemnein, meaning "to cut short." Your summary probably also presents all the key points of the original work, which may explain why epitome eventually came to be used for any person or object that is a clear or good example of an abstraction, as in "the epitome of grace" or "the epitome of health." We could go on and on... or could we?

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Coventry City was for many years the epitome of a club that valued performance over prestige. —

Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024 Those are the epitome of what makes cable TV cable TV, the kinds of shows that often dominate at awards season. —

Trent Moore, IndieWire, 28 Nov. 2024 Madewell’s dresses and skirts are the epitome of effortless chic. —

Kristine Thomason, Travel + Leisure, 27 Nov. 2024 Style it with a plaid skirt and booties for a look that will be trending all year. Find it on Amazon This Oversized Purse With a Slouchy Look The oversized purse is the epitome of function and style. —

Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for epitome