epitomize

/ɪˈpɪtəmaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈpɪtəmaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈpi-tə-ˌmīz/ (ame, mw)

epitomize — verb

  • epitomizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • epitomizeshe / she / it
  • epitomizedpast simple
  • epitomizing-ing form

1. to show the most typical and pure form of a quality, group, or period — so clear

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to show the most typical and pure form of a quality, group, or period — so clearly that you alone can stand in for the whole idea, such as a smiling grandmother showing kindness, or one song showing the sound of a whole decade.

例句

For many fans, the Beatles epitomize the spirit of 1960s pop music.

epitomize + noun (era / movement) as transitive subject

Dahlia's calm voice during the fire epitomized the courage her team needed.

past tense; subject is a person standing in for an abstract quality

同義詞
  • embody

    very close in meaning; slightly less formal and used widely in everyday writing

  • exemplify

    stresses serving as a clear illustration, often in teaching or argument contexts

  • typify

    focuses on being a typical case of a group or class, less about being the perfect case

  • personify

    used when an abstract quality is shown through a person, not an object or era

文法句型

epitomize + noun (quality / group / era)

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person, object, place, or work of art held up as a model; the noun after the verb names the quality, group, or era being represented. Frequently used in journalism, criticism, and academic writing.

常見錯誤

❌She epitomizes to kindness.
✅She epitomizes kindness.
💡epitomize takes a direct noun object, never a preposition like 'to' or 'of'.
❌The film is epitomized by hope.' (when meaning the film shows hope)
✅The film epitomizes hope.
💡passive flips the meaning; the subject should be the example, not the quality.