omega

IPA/əʊmˈeɪɡə/
KK[omˈɛɡə]IPA/oʊmˈɛɡə/

omega — noun

1. the Greek letter that comes at the end of the alphabet, written as Ω or ω

1.nounC1
Definition

the Greek letter that comes at the end of the alphabet, written as Ω or ω

Example

In Greek class, Eva wrote omega after psi on the board.

write omega after psi

The science chart showed capital omega beside the unit symbol.

capital omega in symbols

Common collocations
  • capital omega
  • small omega
  • Greek omega
  • write omega
  • omega symbol
Synonyms
  • letter

    a broad word for any alphabet sign; omega names one exact Greek letter

  • symbol

    broader again; omega can act as a symbol, but it is specifically a letter name

  • character

    used for written signs in general, often in technical contexts

Grammar Patterns

write omega as Ω or ω

capital omega

small omega

Usage Note

Often appears in language, science, and maths when people name the Greek letter itself. Writers may specify capital omega or small omega to show which written form they mean.

Common Mistakes

Omega is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.
Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet.
The first Greek letter is alpha, not omega.

2. the last stage or closing part of something that has several steps or parts

2.nounC2
Definition

the last stage or closing part of something that has several steps or parts

Example

For the old coach, retirement was the omega of forty seasons.

the omega of + noun

The treaty marked the omega of years of border fighting.

Common collocations
  • the omega of life
  • the omega of the season
  • the omega of a journey
  • reach the omega
Synonyms
  • end

    the plain everyday word; omega is much more literary

  • finale

    often used for the last part of a performance or event

  • conclusion

    common in writing and formal discussion, especially for arguments or reports

  • close

    can mean the ending of an event or period; less symbolic than omega

Antonyms
  • beginning

    the start rather than the last part

  • opening

    used for the first part of an event, speech, or text

Grammar Patterns

the omega of + noun

be the omega of + noun

Usage Note

Mostly literary or symbolic rather than everyday. Commonly follows the and often appears in contrasts about beginnings and endings.

Common Mistakes

The opening speech was the omega of the ceremony.
The closing speech was the omega of the ceremony.
This sense points to the final part, not the beginning.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For this sense, omega names one exact Greek letter, so it is much narrower than letter, which can mean any written sign in an alphabet. Alpha is also a Greek letter, but it names the first one and often suggests a beginning, while omega points to the last position. Omicron is another Greek letter with an o sound, but it is a different symbol and not a substitute for omega. In science or maths, people often say capital omega or small omega to show the form clearly. Use omega when you need the exact letter name: Write omega at the end of the line, not Write letter at the end of the line.

omega ↗letter ↗alpha ↗omicron

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Omega comes from Greek ō mega, which literally meant great o. Greek speakers used this name to distinguish the long o sound from omicron, the small o. English later borrowed omega as the standard name of that final Greek letter and, by extension, as a symbol for the end of something.