epic
Americanadjective
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noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style.
Homer's Iliad is an epic poem.
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resembling or suggesting such poetry.
an epic novel on the founding of the country.
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heroic; majestic; impressively great.
the epic events of the war.
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of unusually great size or extent.
a crime wave of epic proportions.
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Slang. very impressive; spectacular; awesome.
Their burgers and fries are epic!
adverb
noun
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epics
plural
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an epic poem.
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epic poetry.
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any composition resembling an epic.
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something worthy to form the subject of an epic.
The defense of the Alamo is an American epic.
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Also called Old Ionic. Epic. the Greek dialect represented in the Iliad and the Odyssey, apparently Aeolic modified by Ionic.
noun
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a long narrative poem recounting in elevated style the deeds of a legendary hero, esp one originating in oral folk tradition
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the genre of epic poetry
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any work of literature, film, etc, having heroic deeds for its subject matter or having other qualities associated with the epic
a Hollywood epic
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an episode in the lives of men in which heroic deeds are performed or attempted
the epic of Scott's expedition to the South Pole
adjective
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denoting, relating to, or characteristic of an epic or epics
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of heroic or impressive proportions
an epic voyage
Discover More
Figuratively, any task of great magnitude may be called “epic,” as in an “epic feat” or an “epic undertaking.”
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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epiclikeadjective
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nonepicadjective
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nonepicaladjective
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semiepicadjective
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semiepicaladjective
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superepicadjective
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unepicadjective
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epicallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of epic
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin epicus, from Greek epikós; see epos, -ic
Explanation
An epic is a long poem or other work of art celebrating heroic feats. After you sail around the world for seven years, fighting corruption and planting vegetable gardens, some poet will surely write the epic of your adventures. Epic comes from the Greek word for song, because Greek poets like Homer sang their poems. We tend to use epic for long, ambitious novels or movies, especially if they involve a long journey. Epic can be used as an adjective to describe something historically important, lasting and complex. Perhaps your great-grandfather was a soldier in the epic struggle of World War One. Your three day, sleepless card poker game could be described as epic.
Vocabulary lists containing epic
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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AP English Lit exam terms
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Poetry: Genres
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Recent history suggests this week's Solheim Cup will be another epic clash to follow hot on the heels of Great Britain and Ireland's dramatic victory over the United States in the Walker Cup.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Sabalenka beats Noskova in epic & do we need 5 sets?
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
It’s one of the most epic collapses for a league champion in MLS history.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
What to know: Taking place across three time periods, this sweeping epic looks at how the legacy of the Spanish Civil War shapes the lives of multiple gay men.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
I’m soaked in sweat by the time we get to the top, where Farmer is waiting for me, just like on our epic hike to Morne Michel.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
Translations of the Greek epics would influence generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Mr. Power begins his survey with Chapman’s Homer but frequently casts his glance backward to the Homeric epics themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Although he established himself with futuristic films like “Alien” and “Blade Runner,” he showed a knack for emotional drama with 1991’s “Thelma & Louise” and for historical epics like 2000’s “Gladiator.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Damon has explained the decline of mid-sized movies and outsized epics in other venues.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
“Sometimes the heroes in epics are assisted by eagle kings and clever monkey princes. But it’s been quite some time. The world is rusty at being dazzling, and so...here I am.”
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
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.
