epitomize

[ ih-pit-uh-mahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, e·pit·o·mized, e·pit·o·miz·ing.

1. to contain or represent in small compass; serve as a typical example of; typify:

   This meadow epitomizes the beauty of the whole area.

2. to make an epitome of:

   to epitomize an argument.

epitomize

/ ɪˈpɪtəˌmaɪz /

verb

1. to be a personification of; typify
2. to make an epitome of

Derived Forms

• eˈpitomist, noun
• eˈpitoˌmizer, noun
• eˌpitomiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• e·pito·mi·zation noun
• e·pito·mizer noun
• une·pito·mized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of epitomize¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; epitom(e) + -ize

Example Sentences

Selflessness sets Ted apart most from so many other TV protagonists framed as epitomizing masculinity.

From Time

The lookalike ads epitomized the successful sales strategy of a booming sector—guilt-tripping parents to get them to spend their hard-earned money on a shot at giving their kids the brightest possible future.

From Quartz

Burd’s character epitomizes the exact way not to approach K-pop.

From Time

Today he epitomizes the new generation of asynchronous workers who during the pandemic have taken flexible working to the next level.

From Digiday

DarkSide, which emerged last August, epitomized this new breed.

From MIT Technology Review

The transportation service—and others like it—epitomize what the sharing economy is all about.

From The Daily Beast

Smart and ambitious, he seemed to epitomize the success of that northern migration experienced by millions of southern blacks.

From The Daily Beast

The brand soon came to epitomize both the best and worst parts of the culture.

From The Daily Beast

We have created a romanticized image that mothers are supposed to be sexless and epitomize the perfect homemaker.

From The Daily Beast

Boiled down, shoveling snow and helping the stranded epitomize governing.

From The Daily Beast

We city dwellers think of robins as harbingers of spring, and all that, and they epitomize the bird world.

From Project Gutenberg

And what a little thing thus to epitomize the whole hopeless standstill of their circumstances!

From Project Gutenberg

Proverbs, indeed, exemplify and epitomize the essentially literary type of thinking and speaking.

From Project Gutenberg

Children the world over epitomize in their habits and thoughts the infancy of the human race.

From Project Gutenberg

Before adverting to the most serious fact it is as well to epitomize the political action which has created it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• characterize
• embody
• exemplify
• illustrate
• personify
• represent
• stand for
• symbolize