noun

epitome

uh-PIHT-uh-mee

noun

A perfect example of a quality or type; the clearest possible embodiment of something.

"With its marble floors and chandeliers, the hotel lobby was the epitome of luxury."

"He's the epitome of a workaholic, answering emails even on holiday."

How to Use Epitome

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe perfect, textbook example of something — the thing that best represents a quality.

Common mistake

Pronounced "eh-PIT-oh-mee," not "EP-ih-tohm" — many learners misread it because of the spelling.

Common pairings

the epitome of elegance epitome of success living epitome

epitomes plural, epitomai plural

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Can you complete this real example?

With its marble floors and chandeliers, the hotel lobby was the _____ of luxury.

From Greek epitomē, "an abridgment" — from epi- + témnein ("to cut") — originally meaning a condensed summary of a text.

antithesis

ome some come home Rome nome tome dome gnome genome become income

antithesis like