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

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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 may very well be good advice on how to campaign for office in the postliterate era. Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 Looking back on the No Need to Argue era in a 2020 interview with SPIN, guitarist Noel Hogan recalled that nearly all of the album was written while the group was on the road. Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 July 2026 There are limits to preparation, though, in the era of megafires, according to experts. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 For a quarter century, Jane Calvert has been on a mission shared by few scholars of the Revolutionary War era. ABC News, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
Noun
  • Captain Tim Ream entered the media area after the defeat, a shell of a man who had spent the previous days proudly leading the team throughout this tournament, playing in four US matches at this World Cup.
    David Close, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
  • Every travel day requires a spacious carry-on bag that’s comfortable to schlep through the airport and spacious enough to hold your in-flight essentials.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Noun
  • The Ventura County district attorney’s office brought eight total counts against a young Ventura resident who was not identified due to his age.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • His passion for politics began at a young age and stemmed from his father who served in the Army and imparted values about duty and service.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • While wedding vows typically last about one to three minutes per person, Swift and Kelce took their time celebrating one another on their big day.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • The extraordinary strait lockdown could make this time different.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
  • During these periods, the probe goes into a hibernation mode in which its instruments still collect data, but most other systems power down.
    Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
  • Perhaps this isn’t even an age in that sense of the term, not in the sense that the Baroque or the Roman or the ancient Greek culture represented an age but, rather, the entire occurrence of human civilization to date represents one single epoch, and that is over.
    Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
  • This epoch of new middling and continental powers should be Africa’s moment.
    Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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