odyssey

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noun od·ys·sey \ ˈä-də-sē \

Definition of odyssey

plural odysseys

1 :a long wandering or voyage usually marked by many changes of fortune

his odyssey from rural South to urban North, from poverty to affluence, from Afro-American folk culture to a Eurocentric world of books
—J. E. Wideman

2 :an intellectual or spiritual wandering or quest

an odyssey of self-discovery

a spiritual odyssey from disbelief to faith

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Examples of odyssey in a Sentence

The story is about the emotional odyssey experienced by a teenage girl.
the spiritual odyssey of the deeply religious

Recent Examples of odyssey from the Web

The fraternal directing duo of Josh and Benny Safdie make urban odysseys that flow with the quicksilver currents of New York City.

— jake coyle, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Robert Pattinson does best work yet in ‘Good Time’," 24 Aug. 2017
The fraternal directing duo of Josh and Benny Safdie make urban odysseys that flow with the quicksilver currents of New York City.

— jake coyle, Detroit Free Press, "Review: Robert Pattinson does best work yet in ‘Good Time’," 24 Aug. 2017
During an odyssey involving six cities and consuming 15 years, Shakespeare’s Pericles often loses his way.

— mike fischer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "APT's inventive 'Pericles' a playful, whirlwind tour," 21 Aug. 2017
Bontinck describes his odyssey into the heart of ISIS territory with an urgent, staccato ring.

— jackson holahan, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Rescued from ISIS' recounts a father's harrowing journey to save his son," 15 Aug. 2017
The fraternal directing duo of Josh and Benny Safdie make urban odysseys that flow with the quicksilver currents of New York City.

— Washington Post, "Review: In ‘Good Time,’ Pattinson in the role of his life," 8 Aug. 2017
And its troubled odyssey illustrates the political and business forces opposing a common-sense but controversial solution to rein in high health care costs for patients: Let patients see prices.

— rachel bluth, Kaiser Health News, "Price Transparency In Medicine Faces Stiff Opposition — From Hospitals And Doctors," 25 July 2017
So began a bittersweet odyssey for the couple, partners in life as well as work.

— erik stokstad, Science | AAAS, "A fungus is attacking Europe’s most beloved salamander. It could wreak havoc if it gets to North America," 19 July 2017
OKC’s muggy air, and its many lakes, reminded him of those childhood odysseys.

— lee jenkins, SI.com, "Behind The Scenes Of Paul George's OKC Arrival," 14 July 2017

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

Did You Know?

Odysseus, the hero of Homer's Odyssey, spends 20 years traveling home from the Trojan War. He has astonishing adventures and learns a great deal about himself and the world; he even descends to the underworld to talk to the dead. Thus, an odyssey is any long, complicated journey, often a quest for a goal, and may be a spiritual or psychological journey as well as an actual voyage.

Origin and Etymology of odyssey

the Odyssey, epic poem attributed to Homer recounting the long wanderings of Odysseus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1886

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ODYSSEY Defined for English Language Learners

odyssey

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noun

Definition of odyssey for English Language Learners

: a long journey full of adventures
: a series of experiences that give knowledge or understanding to someone

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Spanish Central: Translation of odyssey Nglish: Translation of odyssey for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of odyssey for Arabic speakers

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odyssey

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