epitomize

verb

epit·​o·​mize i-ˈpi-tə-ˌmīz How to pronounce epitomize (audio)
epitomized; epitomizing

transitive verb

1
: to serve as the typical or ideal example of
2
: to make or give an epitome of

Example Sentences

This student's struggles epitomize the trouble with our schools. his personal code of behavior on the playing field is epitomized by his favorite saying, “Nice guys finish last”
Recent Examples on the Web Hailey Bieber epitomized springtime dressing today by combining winter and summer-ready pieces into one dual-toned outfit. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 10 May 2023 Her outfit, custom-made by Safiyya, perfectly epitomized a modern twist on tradition. Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, 9 May 2023 The two charges James took against Morant epitomized the sacrifice Ham expects his players to make. Josh Peter, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2023 This germination of new food concepts is epitomized at The Baltimore Farmers’ Market, adding life and color and music to an otherwise desolate area under the Jones Falls Expressway. Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2023 Mary Quant, the British designer who revolutionized fashion and epitomized the style of the Swinging Sixties, a playful, youthful ethos that sprang from the streets, not a Paris atelier, died on Thursday at her home in Surrey, in southern England. Penelope Green, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2023 Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi have epitomized modern young love since the summer of 2021—and now, after almost two years together, they are officially engaged. Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Apr. 2023 Though not the lasting image from the Warriors’ 104-101 loss to the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, that exasperated reaction from Kerr came to epitomize how many Golden State fans surely felt in the fourth quarter. Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 May 2023 Bologne—born enslaved on a plantation in Guadeloupe in 1745—came to epitomize the 18th-century Black excellence. Camille Okhio, ELLE Decor, 26 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'epitomize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of epitomize was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near epitomize

Cite this Entry

“Epitomize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epitomize. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

epitomize

verb
epit·​o·​mize i-ˈpit-ə-ˌmīz How to pronounce epitomize (audio)
epitomized; epitomizing
: to make or serve as an epitome of

More from Merriam-Webster on epitomize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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