apocalypse

American  

[uh-pok-uh-lips] / əˈpɒk ə lɪps /

noun

1. 1. a prophecy or revelation, especially regarding a final cataclysmic battle between good and evil.

   2. the apocalypse, in some belief systems, a final cataclysmic battle of this kind, in which evil is defeated and the present age brought to a close.

      According to traditional evangelical teaching, the apocalypse will begin with a time of persecution.

   3. the apocalypse, the end of civilization; the complete destruction or collapse of the world as we know it (sometimes used facetiously).

      On both ends of the political spectrum, visions of the apocalypse and predictions of doom abound.

      We thought this recession might be the apocalypse, and sales would go down to 1 percent.

2. any universal or widespread destruction or disaster.

   If humanity is to avoid a nuclear apocalypse, a whole new level of international cooperation is urgently required.

3. Apocalypse. Revelation.

4. any piece of literature belonging to a genre of Jewish or Christian writings that appeared from about 200 b.c. to the late Middle Ages and were assumed to reveal God’s ultimate purpose.

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Apocalypse ¹ British  

/ əˈpɒkəlɪps /

noun

1. Bible (in the Vulgate and Douay versions of the Bible) the Book of Revelation

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apocalypse ² British  

/ əˈpɒkəlɪps /

noun

1. a prophetic disclosure or revelation

2. an event of great importance, violence, etc, like the events described in the Apocalypse

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Apocalypse Cultural  

1. Another name for the New Testament Book of Revelation; from the Greek word for “revelation.”

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Discover More

An “apocalypse” is a final catastrophe.

The Apocalypse is supposed to come at the end of the world or of time.

Etymology

Origin of apocalypse

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Late Latin apocalypsis, from Greek apokálypsis “revelation,” from apokalýp(tein) “to uncover, reveal” (from apo- apo- + kalýptein “to cover, conceal”; eucalyptus ) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

At one point he is heard describing the scene as "the apocalypse".

From BBC

Here’s a sign of the apocalypse ... they showed clips of the podcast nominees, which, yes, were just shots of people talking in a studio, but did not show clips of the supporting actor movie nominees.

From Los Angeles Times

Do we really need to hear what Netflix show would get an actor through the apocalypse?

From Salon

"That's the only word I can use to describe it: the apocalypse. It was terrible."

From Barron's

That wouldn’t be much of a challenge for most people in her position, since Carol’s apocalypse is curated to please her.

From Salon

Related Words

• annihilation
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• devastation