adjective

epic

/ˈɛpɪk/ · say it: EP·ik

a long poem narrating heroic deeds

In Literary English

In more detail

1. (adjective) very impressive and large in scale

2. (noun) a long poem or story about a hero or adventure

3. (adjective) extremely good or successful

Examples

1. The battle scene in the movie was epic in scale and duration.
2. Homer's Odyssey is a famous epic from ancient Greece.
3. That was an epic performance by the singer.

How to use epic

As an adjective meaning 'impressively large or grand,' epic is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, though it has become popular in casual speech to mean 'impressively good or successful' (epic win, that was epic). The noun refers specifically to extended narrative poems or stories, primarily in literary and academic contexts. The informal adjective sense may be considered somewhat exaggerated or hyperbolic by careful speakers.

Common phrases

epic scale
epic journey
epic fail
epic adventure
epic poem
reach epic proportions

Synonyms

grand · magnificent · monumental · heroic · spectacular

Opposites

mundane · modest · trivial

Word family

epically (adverb) · epicness (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes overuse the informal sense 'extremely good' in academic or formal writing, where it can sound too casual or imprecise; in formal contexts, prefer 'remarkable,' 'impressive,' or 'significant.'

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD