creation

/kriˈeɪ.ʃən/ (bre, ipa) · [kriˈeʃən] /kriˈeɪ.ʃən/ (ame, ipa) · [kriˈeʃən] /krē-ˈā-shən/ (ame, mw)

creation — noun

  • creationsingular
  • creationsplural

1. the act of bringing something new into existence, whether by making, designing,

1.名詞B1
釋義

the act of bringing something new into existence, whether by making, designing, or inventing it; also, the object or work that results from this act, especially one that shows skill, imagination, or effort.

例句

The creation of the new playground took the community several months to complete.

collocation: the creation of [something]

Mizuki held up her latest creation — a ceramic bowl painted with tiny blue flowers.

collocation: [possessive] latest creation

同義詞
  • invention

    focuses on something entirely new, usually a device or method (e.g. ‘the invention of the light bulb’); narrower than creation

  • production

    emphasizes the process of making or manufacturing, often on a large scale, without the same connotation of originality

  • formation

    suggests how something naturally develops or is arranged (e.g. ‘the formation of ice crystals’), rather than deliberate human making

反義詞
  • destruction

    the act of tearing down or ruining rather than building up

文法句型

the creation of [noun phrase]

[possessive] + creation

用法筆記

When referring to the act (uncountable), “creation” often pairs with “of” (“the creation of a system”). When referring to the product (countable), it is commonly modified by an adjective or possessive (“her latest creation”, “a stunning creation”). This countable sense is especially common for works of art, food, fashion, and design.

常見錯誤

❌The creation of her is very artistic.
✅Her creations are very artistic.
💡“creation” refers to the act or the object produced, not a person’s general ability; use “creativity” for the quality.
❌She made a beautiful creation for the competition.
✅She created a beautiful piece for the competition.
💡“make a creation” sounds redundant; use “create” as a verb or use the noun alone (“her creation”).

2. God’s act of bringing the universe, the earth, and all living things into existe

2.名詞B2
釋義

God’s act of bringing the universe, the earth, and all living things into existence, as recounted in the Biblical book of Genesis.

例句

In the Bible, the Creation took six days, with God resting on the seventh.

capitalized: the Creation

The museum’s exhibition displayed paintings showing scenes from the Creation story.

同義詞
  • genesis

    refers to the beginning or origin of something, often with a formal or literary tone; directly tied to the Book of Genesis

  • the beginning

    a simpler, more general term for the start of existence as described in religious texts

文法句型

the Creation

the story of Creation

[religious text] + Creation

用法筆記

When referring specifically to the Biblical account, the word is usually capitalized (“the Creation”). In more general religious discussion it may appear lower case (“the creation of the world”). This sense is distinct from sense 1: it refers only to the origin of the world itself, not to everyday acts of making or inventing.

常見錯誤

❌I read about the Creation in my science textbook.
✅I read about the Big Bang in my science textbook.
💡“Creation” with a capital C implies a religious framework; in a science class, use “origin of the universe” or “Big Bang”.
❌Creation started with a huge explosion.
✅According to the Bible, the Creation began when God made the heavens and the earth.
💡When using this sense, make the religious context clear so readers do not confuse it with a scientific explanation.

3. the entire world and everything that exists within it, including all living thin

3.名詞B2
釋義

the entire world and everything that exists within it, including all living things, nature, and the physical universe, seen as a single whole.

例句

From the hilltop, Dario gazed at the valley below and felt one with all creation.

fixed phrase: all creation

The biologist spent her life documenting the smallest organisms in all of creation.

fixed phrase: in all of creation

同義詞
  • the universe

    a neutral, scientific term for all existing matter and space; preferred in factual or academic contexts

  • nature

    focuses on the physical world and living things, especially when not made or altered by humans; less cosmic in scope

  • the cosmos

    a more formal or poetic term for the universe seen as an orderly system

文法句型

all creation

the whole of creation

in all of creation

用法筆記

This sense has a literary or poetic quality. It is most often found in fixed phrases like “all creation”, “the whole of creation”, or “in all of creation”. Unlike sense 2, it does not refer to a specific religious event; rather, it describes the existing world as a unified whole. It is rarely used with the definite article alone (“the creation” without “whole of” would normally be read as sense 2).

常見錯誤

❌The creation is very large.
✅The universe is very large.
💡When referring to the physical universe in neutral, factual language, use “universe” or “the natural world”; “creation” sounds poetic or old-fashioned in such a plain statement.