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epiphany

/ɪˈpɪfəni/
/ɛˈpɪfəni/
IPA guide

Other forms: epiphanies

When inspiration hits you out of the blue, call it an epiphany.

In the Christian tradition, Epiphany (ə-PIF-ə-nee) is a festival celebrating Christ's appearance to the Gentiles, observed every year on January 6. From the Christian sense we get an additional religious sense, "the appearance of a god or deity" and the more common modern usage, a noun meaning "a sudden revelation." There's nothing religious about most epiphanies these days — your "Eureka!" moment could come when you realize that you're in the wrong line of work and you need to quit your job to join the circus.

Definitions of epiphany
  1. noun
    a usually sudden insight, perception, or understanding of something
  2. noun
    a divine manifestation
    see moresee less
    type of:
    manifestation
    a clear appearance
Pronunciation
US
/ɪˈpɪfəni/
UK
/ɛˈpɪfəni/
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