epitome

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

epitome — 名詞

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

1.名詞C2
釋義

典範；化身

最能代表某特質的人或物

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.

在診所裡，Beatrix 帶著平靜的笑容，簡直是耐心的典範。

the epitome of + quality

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

在年幼表親眼中，Sana 在台上看起來像自信的化身。

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

摘要；概要

濃縮較長文本重點的短文

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.

這本讀書指南一開始就先給出各章的摘要。

an epitome of + text

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

Yael 為董事會寫了一頁的報告概要。

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.