How does the noun epoch differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of epoch are age, era, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.
the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry
When is it sensible to use age instead of epoch?
The meanings of age and epoch largely overlap; however, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.
the age of Samuel Johnson
When might era be a better fit than epoch?
Although the words era and epoch have much in common, era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.
the era of global communications
In what contexts can period take the place of epoch?
While in some cases nearly identical to epoch, period may designate an extent of time of any length.
periods of economic prosperity
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of epochThe hero – rather than old technology – is an epoch of cosmological history called Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, or BBN.—
Cara Giovanetti,
The Conversation,
25 Sep. 2026 Yet, in contending with the invading species, Denise is fashioned into a female action hero more in keeping with the epoch of director Quentin Tarantino than with that of President Ronald Reagan.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Aug. 2026 The shape of a certain kind of scandal is remarkably similar, epoch to epoch.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2026 Because TDEs are common to less massive supermassive black holes, counting their occurrence at cosmic noon could give an indication of the masses of black holes during that epoch — the key to determining between heavy seeds and light seeds.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for epoch
The last polls before election day have given Eisenkot’s Yashar presumed coalition a lead of about two to six seats over Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, according to three of Israel’s main broadcasters.
—
Yarden Segev,
NBC news,
27 Oct. 2026
This September 25 concert was Lui’s record release event for Instant Validation, which came out that same day via Asthmatic Kitty Records.
Burks personally prosecuted five capital murder death penalty cases during her time at the district attorney’s office.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2026
Playing a real game in Spectrum Center for the first time since trading away LaMelo Ball over the summer, this was Charlotte’s first chance since that controversial deal to show the home fans that the deal was a good one.
The game then got away from the Heat in the third quarter, as the Hornets pulled ahead by as many as 23 points in the period and entered the fourth quarter with a 21-point lead.
—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
25 Oct. 2026
The hunter’s moon comes at the end of a several-day period of the orb approaching and passing Saturn.
Current facial recognition systems, originally developed for photographs, can compare faces despite differences in pose, lighting, expression, age, and image quality.
—
Karen Chernick,
ARTnews.com,
21 Oct. 2026
Other foldables do this too — Samsung and Google and Huawei have been pushing the envelope of gadget-y smartphones for ages — but Apple’s played it so safe for so long that the Duo is legitimately surprising.