Thesaurus results for EPISODE

Q: How is the word 'episode' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of episode are circumstance , event , incident , and occurrence . While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident. // a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

Q: When might 'circumstance' be a better fit than 'episode'?

The words circumstance and episode can be used in similar contexts, but circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background. // couldn't recall the exact circumstances

Q: When can 'event' be used instead of 'episode'?

The meanings of event and episode largely overlap; however, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause. // the events following the assassination

Q: When could 'incident' be used to replace 'episode'?

The words incident and episode are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance. // a minor wartime incident

Q: Where would 'occurrence' be a reasonable alternative to 'episode'?

While in some cases nearly identical to episode , occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan. // an encounter that was a chance occurrence

episode

noun

ˈe-pə-ˌsōd

Definition of episode next

as in event

something that happens I'm trying to forget the whole embarrassing episode

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word episode distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of episode are circumstance, event, incident, and occurrence. While all these words mean "something that happens or takes place," episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

When might circumstance be a better fit than episode?

The words circumstance and episode can be used in similar contexts, but circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

couldn't recall the exact circumstances

When can event be used instead of episode?

The meanings of event and episode largely overlap; however, event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

the events following the assassination

When could incident be used to replace episode?

The words incident and episode are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

a minor wartime incident

Where would occurrence be a reasonable alternative to episode?

While in some cases nearly identical to episode, occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

an encounter that was a chance occurrence

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of episode School continued to be a common site for those episodes. —

Julia Sullivan, SELF, 22 Jan. 2025 Watch Chalamet and his lookalikes in the promo below, and catch the full episode of Saturday Night Live on Jan. 25 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. —

Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2025 Upcoming Projects After 'Landman' and 'Yellowstone' Success Invincible season three, episode one, lands on Prime Video on February 6, 2025, along with episodes two and three. —

Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 Luckily, as of the end of the third episode, Scandoval has yet to have a material bearing on the course of the season. —

Megan McCluskey, TIME, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for episode

Recent Examples of Synonyms for episode

Noun

The event comes as an Arctic blast affects more than half the U.S. population.

— Aïda Amer, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025
While Musk was busy rubbing elbows with other billionaires at the event — namely, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Bezos' fiancée, Lauren Sanchez — all eyes were on Musk and Zilis' interaction, as the two keep their exact relationship status private.

— Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025