epitome

/ɪˈpɪtəmi/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈpɪtəmi/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈpi-tə-mē/ (ame, mw)

epitome — noun

1. someone or something that shows a quality so strongly that people see it as the

1.名詞C2
釋義

someone or something that shows a quality so strongly that people see it as the best possible example.

例句

With her calm smile, Beatrix was the epitome of patience at the clinic.

the epitome of + quality

To her younger cousins, Sana looked like the epitome of confidence on stage.

look like the epitome of + quality

同義詞
  • embodiment

    slightly more formal and often used for ideas made visible in a person or thing

  • ideal

    often suggests a standard people admire or want to reach

  • model

    often stresses something others should copy

反義詞
  • counterexample

    shows the opposite of the quality or claim being discussed

文法句型

the epitome of + quality/noun

用法筆記

Usually appears in the pattern 'the epitome of + quality or type'. It is used for very strong judgments, not for an ordinary example from a group.

常見錯誤

❌Emma is an epitome of kindness.
✅Emma is the epitome of kindness.
💡this pattern normally uses 'the epitome of', not 'an epitome of'.

2. a short written version that gives the main points of a longer text.

2.名詞C2
釋義

a short written version that gives the main points of a longer text.

例句

The study guide begins with an epitome of each chapter.

an epitome of + text

Yael wrote a one-page epitome of the report for the board.

write an epitome of + report

同義詞
  • summary

    the most common everyday word for a short account of the main points

  • abstract

    often used for academic writing and research papers

  • outline

    often stresses the main structure rather than a finished short text

反義詞
  • full text

    the complete original version, not a shortened one

文法句型

an epitome of + book/article/report

用法筆記

This sense is formal and is mainly seen in academic, publishing, or official writing. In everyday English, people more often say summary or outline.

常見錯誤

❌The editor asked for an epitome about the article.
✅The editor asked for an epitome of the article.
💡this sense normally takes 'of' before the text being summarized.