Definition of eranext
as in day
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the introduction of the mass production of cars on an assembly line ushered in the era of the automobile

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun era differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of era are age, epoch, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

When might age be a better fit than era?

While in some cases nearly identical to era, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Where would epoch be a reasonable alternative to era?

While the synonyms epoch and era are close in meaning, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

When would period be a good substitute for era?

In some situations, the words period and era are roughly equivalent. However, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of era That is everybody in college basketball in an era of transaction and transiency that has been compared to unlimited free agency without a salary cap. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2026 The Karnišovas-Eversley era peaked in December of 2021. Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 Families can enjoy a variety of different pinball machines from different eras from the disco 1970s to alien invasions of the 1990s. Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado april 6, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026 The Jeff Hafley era officially begins Tuesday. Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
Noun
  • September 23 – October 22 Tiny tweaks can change the whole day.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The atmosphere Garage door-style windows line the wall in the bar area, ready to open up the space on warm days.
    Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • So Mom clears them out, taking them to a nearby nature preserve and natural-history museum, where the sharp-eyed Sasha notices the teen-age Jeremy stealing a souvenir keychain from a rotating rack.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Your Cardiovascular Health Can Improve Quickly Arteries naturally stiffen with age, which can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • An extension gives you more time to file, but not more time to pay, according to the IRS.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Charlotte home prices rose slightly in February compared to the same time last year, although certain neighborhoods had significant swings up or down, according to the latest data from the real estate site Redfin.
    Chase Jordan April 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • But after getting as close as six in the third, the Heat went into the fourth down 102-90, with the deficit back into the 20s less than four minutes into that final period.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Written and directed by Rohan Parashuram Kanawade, the film centers on a young man from Mumbai who travels back to his family’s village in rural Maharashtra after his father dies, bound by tradition to observe a 10-day mourning period.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That span of wavelengths happens to be a window into the most mysterious epoch of the universe’s history.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The cave system flooded at the end of the last ice age — the end of the Pleistocene epoch — approximately 8,000 years ago, due to rising sea levels from melting ice.
    Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on era

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster