carpe diem

[ kahr-pe dee-em; English kahr-pee dahy-uhm, kahr-pey dee-uhm ]

1. Latin. seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future.

carpe diem

/ ˈkɑːpɪ ˈdiːɛm /

(no translation)

1. enjoy the pleasures of the moment, without concern for the future

Carpe diem

1. Latin for “Seize the day”: take full advantage of present opportunities. This sentiment is found not only in classical literature but in much of English literature as well ( see “ Gather ye rosebuds while ye may ” and “ Had we but world enough, and time, / This coyness, Lady, were no crime .”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpe diem¹

First recorded in 1815–20; literally, “pluck (the fruit of) the day,” from Horace's Odes (1.9)

Word History and Origins

Origin of carpe diem¹

literally: seize the day!

Idioms and Phrases

Enjoy the present and don't worry about the future, as in It's a beautiful day, so forget tomorrow's test—carpe diem! Latin for “seize the day,” an aphorism found in the Roman writer Horace's Odes , this phrase has been used in English since the early 1800s.

Example Sentences

As an English teacher, rather than some high-falutin’ university boss, he was quietly calling for carpe diem.

From New York Times

Like a variation on the local notion, “the mountain’s out,” the brand embodies a carpe diem attitude.

From Seattle Times

A dire bout with esophageal cancer, with its attendant brutal treatments and radical reprioritization of life, seemed to force memento mori and carpe diem into an urgent competition for dominance — and the latter clearly won.

From Washington Post

Still, she wrote, “the message of ‘Rent’ isn’t just a glib carpe diem but a resounding declaration of ‘stand with your community despite’ and ‘make art despite.’

From New York Times

But it’s his secret office nickname, discovered by Williams in this achingly poignant drama of regret, that best characterizes the film’s theme of carpe diem: Mr. Zombie.

From Washington Post