metamorphosis

noun meta·mor·pho·sis \ ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs \

|Updated on: 9 Jul 2018

Examples: metamorphosis in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of metamorphosis

plural metamorphoses play \-ˌsēz\

1 a : change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means

the metamorphosis of humans into animals

b : a striking alteration in appearance, character, or circumstances

The company has gone through a series of metamorphoses.

2 : a typically marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (such as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching

the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies

See metamorphosis defined for English-language learners

See metamorphosis defined for kids

Examples of metamorphosis in a Sentence

We have watched her metamorphosis from a shy schoolgirl into a self-confident businesswoman.
a company that has gone through a series of metamorphoses
The government has undergone political metamorphosis since his election.
the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs
The class learned about how caterpillars undergo metamorphosis to become butterflies.

Recent Examples of metamorphosis from the Web

The metamorphosis of milquetoast Neil Gorsuch has baffled people who’ve followed him for years.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Romney threads the needle on Trump in Utah Senate debate," 30 May 2018
The metamorphosis of milquetoast Neil Gorsuch has baffled people who’ve followed him for years.

— simon van zuylen-wood, Daily Intelligencer, "How Neil Gorsuch Became the Second-Most-Polarizing Man in Washington," 28 May 2018
But the inspiration for Kratos’ metamorphosis came from a source more complex than any work of fiction: real life.

— lisa eadicicco, Time, "The New God of War Game Is Unlike Any You've Played Before," 19 Mar. 2018
The state’s thriving, algal, creeping spirit is home to writers like Jeff VanderMeer, whose Southern Reach trilogy depicts an alien landscape of terrifying beauty and metamorphosis.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Florida, Full of Dread," 14 June 2018
This metamorphosis is what would happen if a word cloud sourced from a Trump rally were used in a giant game of telephone—but one in which the gibberish end result were then broadcast as news to hundreds of millions of recipients.

— jay willis, GQ, "Spygate: How Right-Wing Media Creates a Conspiracy Theory Out of Thin Air," 23 May 2018
The deal is yet another sign of Microsoft’s startling recent metamorphosis.

— The Economist, "Buying GitHub takes Microsoft back to its roots," 9 June 2018
Having quietly stewed during its early days, the reality TV series underwent a complete pop metamorphosis—eventually becoming a cultural engine and bankable hit.

— jason parham, WIRED, "With Pose, Prestige TV Becomes Resistance TV," 1 June 2018
Feces Chamber Most people know some version of the caterpillar-to-butterfly metamorphosis story.

— jason bittel, National Geographic, "Watch a Sausage-Size Insect Transform From Larva to Beetle," 11 May 2018

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

Did You Know?

Many ancient myths end in a metamorphosis. As Apollo is chasing the nymph Daphne, she calls on her river-god father for help and he turns her into a laurel tree to save her. Out of anger and jealousy, the goddess Athena turns the marvelous weaver Arachne into a spider that will spin only beautiful webs. But natural substances may also metamorphose, or undergo metamorphosis. Heat and pressure over thousands of years may eventually turn tiny organisms into petroleum, and coal into diamonds. And the most beloved of natural metamorphoses (notice how this plural is formed) is probably the transformation of caterpillars into butterflies.

Origin and Etymology of metamorphosis

Latin, from Greek metamorphōsis, from metamorphoun to transform, from meta- + morphē form

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

metamorphosis Synonyms

Synonyms

changeover, conversion, transfiguration, transformation;

Related Words

shift, transition;

adjustment, alteration, modification;

reconstruction, reconversion, redo, redoing, refashioning, reformation, remaking, remodeling, revamping, revision, reworking, variation;

deformation, disfigurement, distortion, mutation, transmutation;

displacement, replacement, substitution, supplantation;

Other Insect Terms

drone, entomology, gadfly, pismire, proboscis, vespine

METAMORPHOSIS Defined for English Language Learners

metamorphosis

noun

Definition of metamorphosis for English Language Learners

: a major change in the appearance or character of someone or something
biology : a major change in the form or structure of some animals or insects that happens as the animal or insect becomes an adult

METAMORPHOSIS Defined for Kids

metamorphosis

noun meta·mor·pho·sis \ ˌme-tə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs \

Definition of metamorphosis for Students

plural metamorphoses \-fə-ˌsēz\

1 : a great change in appearance or character

2 : the process of great and usually rather sudden change in the form and habits of some animals during transformation from an immature stage (as a caterpillar) to an adult stage (as a butterfly)

Medical Dictionary

metamorphosis

noun meta·mor·pho·sis \ ˌmet-ə-ˈmȯr-fə-səs \

medical Definition of metamorphosis

plural metamorphoses play \-ˌsēz\

1 : change of physical form, structure, or substance

2 : a marked and more or less abrupt developmental change in the form or structure of an animal (as a butterfly or a frog) occurring subsequent to birth or hatching