Epic Meaning
/ˈɛp.ɪk/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAn extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a deity, demigod (heroic epic), other legend or traditional hero.
nounAcronym of explicitly parallel instruction computing.
Sentence Examples
I like lyric better than epic.
It was a hamburger of epic dimensions!
Tom is in an epic battle to clear his sinuses.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The film was an ____ tale of ancient warriors and gods.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The poet spent decades writing an ____ about the legendary hero's journey.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French épique, from Latin epicus, from Ancient Greek ἐπικός (epikós), from ἔπος (épos, “word, story”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Texas Rangers investigation is one of at least five announced investigations targeting EPIC or EPIC City. Those include investigations led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas State Board of Securities and the Texas Funeral Service Commission."
— 2025 March 31, Adrian Ashford, “Gov. Abbott directs Texas Rangers to investigate EPIC for ‘potential criminal activities’”, in The Dallas Morning News:
"These epics nearly always had runaway trains, nincompoops floundering with the controls and a collapsed bridge just ahead!"
— 1958 February 26, David Gunston, “Railways on the Screen”, in Railway Magazine, page 88:
"Epics are shown in a separate list from user stories. This is because it is the user stories that are developed, not epics. Epics are decomposed into child user stories."
— 2019, Leslie Munday, Using Agile In A Quality Driven Environment, page 56:
"The main theme of epic poetry is, of course, the hero, his life, his greatness of character, his deeds and his death."
— 1983, Jan Knappert, Epic Poetry in Swahili and other African Languages, page 58:
"China's epic traffic jam "vanished" [title of article]"
— 2010 August 25, Agence France-Presse, “China's epic traffic jam 'vanished'”, in Google News, archived from the original on 28 Aug 2010:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The film was an ____ tale of ancient warriors and gods.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The poet spent decades writing an ____ about the legendary hero's journey.