(initial capital letter) a Christian festival, observed on January 6, commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi; Twelfth-day.
an appearance or manifestation, especially of a deity.
a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.
a literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.
the manifestation of a supernatural or divine reality
any moment of great or sudden revelation
What is the Feast of the Epiphany? The Feast of the Epiphany (often simply called Epiphany) is a Christian holiday. In the Western Church, it celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Christ (the prophesied Messiah or Savior) to the Magi (popularly known as the three wise men) and to all Gentiles (non-Jews). In the Eastern Church, the Epiphany commemorates the baptism of Jesus and the revelation of his divinity. The Feast of the Epiphany is considered the twelfth and final day of the Christmas celebration. For this reason, it is sometimes called Twelfth Day. Many Christians observe the Epiphany as the end of the Christmas season and it is traditional to leave up Christmas decorations until this day. In some places, the Feast of the Epiphany is considered to mark the start of Carnival season—the period of feasting and merriment before Lent.
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English epiphanie, from Late Latin epiphanīa, from Late Greek epipháneia, from Greek: “apparition,” equivalent to epi- epi- ( def. ) + phan- (stem of phaínein “to appear”) + -eia -y 3 ( def. )
When inspiration hits you out of the blue, call it an epiphany. In the Christian tradition, Epiphany (ə-PIF-ə-nee) is a festival celebrating Christ's appearance to the Gentiles, observed every year on January 6. From the Christian sense we get an additional religious sense, "the appearance of a god or deity" and the more common modern usage, a noun meaning "a sudden revelation." There's nothing religious about most epiphanies these days — your "Eureka!" moment could come when you realize that you're in the wrong line of work and you need to quit your job to join the circus.
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The segment ends on a starkly moving note when a visit to the Anne Frank House inspires an unexpected epiphany.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Sarris recalls a similar epiphany he had speaking with McKay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
With this intimate, painful epiphany, the show’s larger parable about obligingly submitting to ahistorical ignorance is blunted with a spiritually benevolent ideal.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
I didn’t achieve Thoreau’s epiphany; didn’t learn that the beaches I walked were a natural manual for how to live a good life.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
Penelope was well aware of her location—particularly after all those navigational studies with the children—but to Lady Constance the news seemed to have the makings of yet another epiphany.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
Pope Leo XIV celebrates a mass on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord in St Peter's Basilica, after closing the Holy Door, marking the end of the Jubilee year.
From Barron's ● Jan. 6, 2026
Appeared in the November 19, 2025, print edition as 'A Progressive ‘News Distortion’ Epiphany'.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 18, 2025
On Monday, the feast of Epiphany in the Christian calendar, Mr Welby will attend two services at Lambeth Palace, a Eucharist at lunchtime and Evensong later in the day.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2025
These wise men, or magi, will eventually arrive at the manger on Jan. 6, also known as Epiphany or Three Kings Day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2024
Mrs. Laurencin immediately called the school bus dispatcher and reserved six big yellow ones to take the Epiphany Boosters to Albany.
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
Either way, know that nothing in this hour expands beyond territory he hasn’t covered – including, and namely, any epiphanies about responsibility.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
Her compositions are more propulsive and melodic, capturing the romance of youth and tiny epiphanies of life lived raw and in the moment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2025
Citing Oedipus, Macbeth and Raskolnikov, he points out that literary epiphanies always come too late.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
As the escalating pressure mounts, he has a cathartic meltdown and several epiphanies that are fun to watch.
From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2024
And in all that time, no one has ever asked a "random question" about "epiphanies" for "no reason."
From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
