episode

noun

ep·​i·​sode ˈe-pə-ˌsōd 

also

-ˌzōd 

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

Synonyms of episode

• event
• incident
• thing
• circumstance

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

After 11 episodes, Marinaro exited to join the cast of NBC’s groundbreaking crime drama Hill Street Blues. —Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

People who, like Isaacson, have had depression lasting two or more years or at least two depressive episodes are far more likely to have additional ones, research shows. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

After an hourlong discussion on this week’s episode of Armchair Expert, host Shepard’s last question to SNL’s Marcello Hernández was about his relationship with Sabrina Carpenter. —Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2026

Toward the end of my four-month-long manic episode, my medication was changed. —Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing episode

• bottle episode

Rhymes for episode

• afterload
• internode
• microcode
• multimode
• nematode
• nesselrode
• overflowed
• overload
• overrode
• radioed
• torpedoed
• trematode

Kids Definition

episode

noun

ep·​i·​sode ˈep-ə-ˌsōd 

: an event that is part of a longer story or of history or a life but which is viewed as complete by itself

episodic

ˌep-ə-ˈsäd-ik

adjective

Medical Definition

episode

noun

ep·​i·​sode

ˈep-ə-ˌsōd also -ˌzōd

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

especially : an occurrence of a usually recurrent pathological abnormal condition

a manic episode

hypoglycemic episodes

episodic

ˌep-ə-ˈsäd-ik also -ˈzäd-

adjective

episodically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb