epiphany
noun
epiph·a·ny
i-ˈpi-fə-nē 
plural epiphanies
1
capitalized
: January 6 observed as a church festival in commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles or in the Eastern Church in commemoration of the baptism of Christ
2
: an appearance or manifestation especially of a divine being
3
a(1)
: a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
(2)
: an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking
(3)
: an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure
b
: a revealing scene or moment
Examples of epiphany in a Sentence
Invention has its own algorithm: genius, obsession, serendipity, and epiphany in some unknowable combination.
—
Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker, 12 May 2008
One day, a New York composer met an expert on Asian domesticated elephants, and together they reached some sort of freakish epiphany and decided to see if elephants could learn to play music.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2002
One epiphany came when a dozen engineers in northern New Mexico saw a lone, fading Xerox paper carton bobbing in a swamp of old motor oil at the bottom of a pit.
—Michelle Conlin, Business Week, 1 Nov. 1999
Seeing her father again when she was an adult was an epiphany that changed her whole view of her childhood.
Malcolm Gladwell, New Yorker, 12 May 2008
One day, a New York composer met an expert on Asian domesticated elephants, and together they reached some sort of freakish epiphany and decided to see if elephants could learn to play music.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2002
One epiphany came when a dozen engineers in northern New Mexico saw a lone, fading Xerox paper carton bobbing in a swamp of old motor oil at the bottom of a pit.
—Michelle Conlin, Business Week, 1 Nov. 1999
Seeing her father again when she was an adult was an epiphany that changed her whole view of her childhood.
Recent Examples on the Web
With all three of these planets making big moves this summer, one thing’s for sure: This will be a season of emotional highs, wild epiphanies and transformative experiences.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 May 2025
Chong points out that for the Buddhist tradition in which she was trained, an epiphany has to be met with practical considerations.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025
In their place are quieter epiphanies: evocative, poetic passages about characters falling in love and the close bond between parents and children.
—Esmeralda Santiago, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The relationship of being present to how a company approaches its AI journey includes having the epiphany that approaching AI through a technology lens will only result in an unfulfilling outcome.
—Michael Hicks, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for epiphany
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Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 May 2025
Chong points out that for the Buddhist tradition in which she was trained, an epiphany has to be met with practical considerations.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 May 2025
In their place are quieter epiphanies: evocative, poetic passages about characters falling in love and the close bond between parents and children.
—Esmeralda Santiago, New York Times, 21 May 2025
The relationship of being present to how a company approaches its AI journey includes having the epiphany that approaching AI through a technology lens will only result in an unfulfilling outcome.
—Michael Hicks, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for epiphany
Cite this Entry
“Epiphany.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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