epitomize

American  

[ih-pit-uh-mahyz] / ɪˈpɪt əˌmaɪz /

especially British, epitomise

verb (used with object)

epitomized, epitomizing

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.

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epitomize British  

/ ɪˈpɪtəˌmaɪz /

verb

1. to be a personification of; typify

2. to make an epitome of

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Other Word Forms

• epitomist
  noun
• epitomization
  noun
• epitomizer
  noun
• unepitomized
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of epitomize

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

Explanation

If you epitomize something, you’re a perfect example of that thing. If you never get nervous when playing basketball and can always make that last-second shot, your teammates might say you epitomize mental toughness. A person can epitomize something — usually an abstract quality, like grace or greed — but epitomize can apply to other things as well. A popular band might epitomize the spirit of the new decade, which means it has all the main characteristics associated with the era's music, like long folksy beards, pretty harmonies, and earnest lyrics. A frustrating situation at work involving careless coworkers might make you say that they epitomize everything that’s wrong with your job.

Related Words

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