If you say that a person or thing is theepitomeof something, you are emphasizing that they are the best possible example of a particular type of person or thing.
[formal, emphasis]
Maureen was the epitome of sophistication. [+ of]
Synonyms: personification, essence, embodiment, type More Synonyms of epitome
More Synonyms of epitome
epitome in British English
(ɪˈpɪtəmɪ)
noun
1.
a typical example of a characteristic or class; embodiment; personification
he is the epitome of sloth
2.
a summary of a written work; abstract
Derived forms
epitomical (ˌɛpɪˈtɒmɪkəl) or epitomic (ˌepiˈtomic)
adjective
Word origin
C16: via Latin from Greek epitomē, from epitemnein to abridge, from epi- + temnein to cut
epitome in American English
(iˈpɪtəˌmi; ɪˈpɪtəmi)
nounWord forms: pluraleˈpitoˌmes
1.
a short statement of the main points of a book, report, incident, etc.; abstract; summary
2.
a person or thing that shows all the typical qualities of something
SIMILAR WORDS: aˈbridgment
Word origin
L < Gr epitomē, abridgment < epitemnein, to cut short < epi-, upon + temnein, to cut: see -tomy
Examples of 'epitome' in a sentence
epitome
Who is the epitome of modern elegance?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
My room was the epitome of elegance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They have become the epitome of the little man made good.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The wacky has become the epitome of respectability and sanity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Taurus is the epitome of classic cool.
The Sun (2015)
They are the epitome of style.
The Sun (2014)
I thought this was the epitome of cool.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Surely the epitome of cool.
The Sun (2012)
It's the epitome of English style.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Confident, tanned and talkative, he looked the epitome of the champion he longs to be again.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I'd always thought the epitome of luxury shopping was when your purchase got a ribbon and your receipt got put in one of those little envelopes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
epitome
British English: epitome NOUN
If you say that a person or thing is the epitome of something, you are emphasizing that they are the best possible example of it.
She was the epitome of sophistication.
American English: epitome
Brazilian Portuguese: epítome
Chinese: 典型
European Spanish: arquetipo
French: quintessence
German: Inbegriff
Italian: incarnazione
Japanese: 典型
Korean: 전형
European Portuguese: epítome
Latin American Spanish: arquetipo
1 (noun)
Definition
a person or thing that is a typical example of a characteristic or class
The countess was the epitome of sophistication.
Synonyms
personification
Janis Joplin was the personification of the '60s female rock singer.
essence
embodiment
A baby is the embodiment of vulnerability.
type
representation
norm
archetype
He is the archetype of the successful businessman.
exemplar
They viewed their new building as an exemplar of taste.
typical example
quintessence
He was the quintessence of all Eva most deeply loathed.
2 (noun)
Definition
a summary, esp. of a written work
Synonyms
summary
Here's a summary of the day's news.
résumé
I will leave you a résumé of his speech.
abstract
If you want to submit a paper, you must supply an abstract.
digest
a regular digest of environmental statistics
contraction
syllabus
abbreviation
The postal abbreviation for Kansas is KS.
condensation
a condensation of a book that offers ten ways to be a better manager
compendium
His book is a delightful compendium of miscellaneous knowledge.
synopsis
For each title there is a brief synopsis of the book.
précis
a nine-page précis of the manuscript
abridgment
The issue of abridgment is in the author's hands.
conspectus
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abbreviation
The postal abbreviation for Kansas is KS.
Synonyms
shortening,
reduction,
résumé,
trimming,
clipping,
summary,
abstract,
digest,
contraction,
compression,
epitome,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
curtailment,
précis,
abridgment,
conspectus (formal),
truncation
in the sense of abridgment
The issue of abridgment is in the author's hands.
Synonyms
shortening,
reduction,
résumé,
outline,
restriction,
diminishing,
decrease,
limitation,
summary,
abstract,
digest,
contraction,
cutting,
lessening,
epitome,
abbreviation,
condensation,
compendium,
synopsis,
diminution,
curtailment,
précis,
conspectus (formal)
in the sense of abstract
Definition
a summary
If you want to submit a paper, you must supply an abstract.