Definition of APOCALYPSE (original) (raw)
1
a
: one of the Jewish and Christian writings of 200 b.c. to a.d. 150 marked by pseudonymity, symbolic imagery, and the expectation of an imminent cosmic cataclysm in which God destroys the ruling powers of evil and raises the righteous to life in a messianic kingdom
2
a
: something viewed as a prophetic revelation
3
a
: a large, disastrous fire : inferno
Most foresters agree that small, "prescribed" burns, carefully controlled, are essential to prevent the larger apocalypse.—
Lance Morrow
b
: a great disaster
an environmental apocalypse
Synonyms
Examples of apocalypse in a Sentence
His book tells of an environmental apocalypse. the fear that the next global pandemic could be an apocalypse of biblical proportions
Recent Examples on the Web Alan Eugene Miller's execution represents a 'moral apocalypse' Miller is scheduled to become the second death row inmate to be executed using nitrogen gas in Alabama. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 These objects are too small to cause a worldwide apocalypse, but large enough to devastate entire regions. —David Bressan, Forbes, 25 Sep. 2024 Based on the popular post-apocalyptic video game franchise of the same name, Fallout is set in 2296, 219 years after the fictional apocalypse occurred. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2024 Remember the time Whoopi Goldberg warned the world about the dangers of an Amazon Alexa AI apocalypse? —EW.com, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for apocalypse 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'apocalypse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English Apocalipse "Revelation (the New Testament book)," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Late Latin apocalypsis "revelation, the Book of Revelation," borrowed from Greek apokálypsis "uncovering, disclosure, revelation," from apokalyp-, stem of apokalýptein "to uncover, disclose, reveal" (from apo- apo- + kalýptein "to cover, protect, conceal," of uncertain origin) + -sis -sis
Note: Greek kalýptein is associated in older handbooks with Indo-European *ḱel- "conceal" (see conceal), though neither the vocalism nor the supposed extension *-up- are easily explicable.
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of apocalypse was before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near apocalypse
Cite this Entry
“Apocalypse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apocalypse. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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Last Updated: 30 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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