epitomize

[ ih-pit-uh-mahyz ]
See synonyms for: epitomizeepitomized on Thesaurus.com

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.

Origin of epitomize

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; epitom(e) + -ize
  • Also especially British, e·pit·o·mise .

Other words from epitomize

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use epitomize in a sentence

  • And then, it's not often you get the chance of seeing a whole development quite so concisely epitomised as we've had it here.

    Mushroom Town | Oliver Onions
  • It has been well epitomised as the "day-dream of an artist who has saturated his mind with the past."

    Romance of Roman Villas | Elizabeth W. (Elizbeth Williams) Champney
  • Once epitomised for the Reading, the printed version, at least of the report, was left altogether intact.

  • This law has been epitomised by Spencer as the 'survival of the fittest.'

    Darwinism (1889) | Alfred Russel Wallace
  • It is epitomised in the untranslatable epigram—Claustrum sine armario (est) quasi castrum sine armamentario.

    Old English Libraries | Ernest Savage

British Dictionary definitions for epitomize

epitomize

epitomise

/ (ɪˈpɪtəˌmaɪz) /


verb(tr)
  1. to be a personification of; typify

  2. to make an epitome of

Derived forms of epitomize

  • epitomist, noun
  • epitomization or epitomisation, noun
  • epitomizer or epitomiser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012