episode

noun ep·i·sode \ ˈe-pə-ˌsōd also -ˌzōd \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: episode in a Sentence

Definition of episode

1 : a usually brief unit of action in a dramatic or literary work: such as

a : the part of an ancient Greek tragedy between two choric songs

b : a developed situation that is integral to but separable from a continuous narrative : incident

c : one of a series of loosely connected stories or scenes

d : the part of a serial presented at one performance

2 : an event that is distinctive and separate although part of a larger series

3 : a digressive subdivision in a musical composition

See episode defined for English-language learners

See episode defined for kids

Examples of episode in a Sentence

It was a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work.
He tried to forget the whole embarrassing episode.
a painful episode from my childhood
Millions of people are expected to watch the show's final episode.

Recent Examples of episode from the Web

Attorney General investigation: Governor's office halts auto-tweet policy after criticism of link to Curtis Hill statement SVT patients sometimes go months or years without experiencing an episode, Kean said.

— jordyn hermani, Indianapolis Star, "Fishers teen discovers she has heart defect after wearing Fitbit," 14 July 2018
We’re also on Soundcloud, and every episode gets posted to wired.com as soon as it’s released.

— lauren goode, WIRED, "Panos on Surface," 13 July 2018
Since 2013 there have been more than 300 episodes of gun violence in schools, EveryTown for Gun Safety reports, and in recent months students have called for their politicians to take action on stricter gun reform laws.

— lauren rearick, Teen Vogue, "Ohio School District to Install Pepper Spray “Threat Extinguisher” System," 13 July 2018
All six episodes will be available on the subscription streaming service ESPN+ on July 16.

— heather hansman, Outside Online, "The Newest Adventure Movies You Can Watch Right Now," 12 July 2018
Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature, and internetspeak in this week’s episode of Explained, now on Netflix.

— jennie neufeld, Vox, "Vox Sentences: NATOhhh no...," 12 July 2018
This was an all-time episode of Bryson Being Bryson.

— daniel rapaport, SI.com, "FORE Questions: Breaking Down the New PGA Tour Schedule," 12 July 2018
Subscribe on iTunes or Google Play, or find previous episodes on the web at ajc.com.

— helena oliviero, ajc, "Listen: ‘The Amazing Castle’ now at The Children’s Museum of Atlanta," 12 July 2018
Gaitonde’s calls to Singh transform into a voiceover that speaks over every episode in the series.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Sacred Games Reinvents the Police Procedural," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'episode.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of episode

Greek epeisodion, from neuter of epeisodios coming in besides, from epi- + eisodios coming in, from eis into (akin to Greek en in) + hodos road, journey — more at in

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1678

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

episode Synonyms

Synonyms

affair, circumstance, event, happening, incident, occasion, occurrence, thing;

Related Words

coincidence, fluke, freak;

landmark, milepost, milestone, page, phenomenon, turning point;

adventure, experience, time;

happenchance, happenstance;

accident, crisis, emergency, juncture;

achievement, deed, exploit, feat;

news, tidings;

Synonym Discussion of episode

occurrence, event, incident, episode, circumstance mean something that happens or takes place. occurrence may apply to a happening without intent, volition, or plan.

- an encounter that was a chance occurrence

event usually implies an occurrence of some importance and frequently one having antecedent cause.

- the events following the assassination

incident suggests an occurrence of brief duration or secondary importance.

- a minor wartime incident

episode stresses the distinctiveness or apartness of an incident.

- a brief romantic episode in a life devoted to work

circumstance implies a specific detail attending an action or event as part of its setting or background.

- couldn't recall the exact circumstances

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

EPISODE Defined for English Language Learners

episode

noun

Definition of episode for English Language Learners

: an event or a short period of time that is important or unusual
: a television show, radio show, etc., that is one part of a series
: an occurrence of an illness

EPISODE Defined for Kids

episode

noun ep·i·sode \ ˈe-pə-ˌsōd \

Definition of episode for Students

1 : an event or one of a series of events that stands out clearly

I'm trying to forget the whole embarrassing episode.

2 : one in a series of connected stories or performances

Medical Dictionary

episode

noun ep·i·sode \ ˈep-ə-ˌsōd also -ˌzōd \

medical Definition of episode

: an event that is distinctive and separate although part of a larger series; especially : an occurrence of a usually recurrent pathological abnormal condition