apocalypse
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apocalypse¹
- /əˈpɒkəlɪps/ UK
- /əˈpɑkəlɪps/ US
Where it comes from
From Middle English apocalips, from Latin apocalypsis, from Ancient Greek ἀποκάλυψις (apokálupsis, “revelation”, literally “uncovering”), from ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalúptō, “to reveal”), from ἀπό (apó, “back, away from”) + καλύπτω (kalúptō, “to cover”), + -σις (-sis, suffix forming nouns). The sense evolution to "catastrophe, end of the world" stems from the depiction of such events in the biblical Book of Revelation, also called the Apocalypse of (i.e. Revelation to) John.
The verb is from the noun and, in sense 1, a semantic loan from the etymonic Ancient Greek verb ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalúptō, “to reveal”).
noun apocalypses
-
A revealing, especially a prophecy of, or the unfolding of, supernatural events.
The early development of Perl 6 was punctuated by a series of apocalypses by Larry Wall.
Similar: revelation
-
A huge disaster; a cataclysmic event; destruction or ruin of large scope and scale.
Near-synonyms: cataclysm, catastrophe, holocaust; armageddon, doomsday, end times, eschaton, judgement day, judgment day
Similar: cataclysm, catastrophe, holocaust, armageddon, doomsday, end times, eschaton, judgement day, judgment day
-
The unveiling of events prophesied in the Revelation; the second coming and the end of life on Earth; global destruction.
Meronyms: Final Judgment, Judgment Day, judgement day, judgment day
Similar: armageddon, doomsday, end times, eschaton, Ragnarok
-
The Book of Revelation.
Similar: Revelation
verb apocalypses · apocalypsing · apocalypsed
- To reveal. The transitory sufferings of the present time can never be put in competition with the glory which shall be apocalypsed in us; for even the creation itself, which shall not possess the glory, shall nevertheless derive from them such real solid benefit, such true freedom from real ills, that she also
- To dwell on a huge disaster one expects to take place. “To Las Vegas? When was that?” “About four months before she died. When he was twenty-one. Just before he started in on all that preaching and apocalypsing business. […] Had him a vision, he said, and God told him to change his name to Sam-u-el Mor-de-cai. And ever since then he’s been apocalypsing
- To bring about (a huge disaster). The fourth age of this Lunaeon is alive with povertous homage / For those whom^([sic]) chew upon the Rockking’s wealth / And worship his unlovable stone / Apocalypsing an end to this ever-there-be-day / Wear a cloak of benightly screaming / Banshees, eager to roam whence / Windrom releases their pen
Apocalypse²
- /əˈpɒkəlɪps/ UK
- /əˈpɑkəlɪps/ US
Where it comes from
Proprialization from apocalypse, ultimately from Ancient Greek ἀποκάλυψις (apokálupsis, “revelation”). The translation decisions, from the original Greek to the conventional English choices Revelation and Apocalypse, are covered by Wikipedia at Book of Revelation § Title, authorship, and date.
proper noun Apocalypses
- The written account of a revelation of hidden things given by God to a chosen prophet. Apocalypses of Adam and Abraham (Epiphanius) and of Elias (Jerome) are also mentioned.
- Revelation (last book of the Bible, composed of twenty-two chapters, which narrates a vision of the end times). He's been reading the Apocalypse again, and doomscrolling social media content that fixates on it.
- Armageddon: the destructive end of the world. They keep predicting that the Apocalypse is nigh, but I notice that they have books and supplies that they're trying to sell.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: revelation, armageddon, doom, grip, revelations, stuff, devastation, catastrophe, cataclysm, eschaton, doomsday, collapse, downfall, calamity, obliteration, destruction
Translations
Every language
noun revealing or revelation
| 한국어 | 묵시 muksi |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 黙示 |
| 中文 | 啟示 /启示 qǐshì |
| हिन्दी | कश्फ kaśph, कश्फ़ kaśf |
| Português | apocalipse |
| Français | apocalypse |
| Deutsch | Apokalypse |
| Ελληνικά | αποκάλυψη apokálypsi |
| Română | apocalipsă |
| Русский | апока́липсис apokálipsis, открове́ние otkrovénije |
noun cataclysmic event
| 中文 | 災變 /灾变 zāibiàn, 災難 /灾难 zāinàn |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | संक्षय saṅkṣay |
| Português | apocalipse |
| Français | apocalypse |
| Deutsch | Apokalypse |
| Italiano | apocalisse |
| Русский | апока́липсис apokálipsis |
noun end of the world
| Español | apocalipsis |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 世界末日 shìjiè mòrì |
| हिन्दी | संक्षय saṅkṣay, क़यामत qayāmat |
| Português | apocalipse |
| Français | apocalypse |
| Deutsch | Apokalypse |
| Italiano | apocalisse |
| Русский | апока́липсис apokálipsis |
| العربية | الْقِيَامَة al-qiyāma, نِهَايَةُ الْعَالَم nihāyatu l-ʕālam |
| עברית | אחרית הימים aḥarít hayamím, אַפּוֹקַלִיפְּסָה apokalípsa |
name book of the Bible
| Español | Apocalipsis |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 요한 계시록 yohan gyesirok |
| 日本語 | 黙示録 Mokushiroku |
| 中文 | 啟示錄 /启示录 Qǐshìlù |
| Kiswahili | Ufunuo |
| Português | Apocalipse |
| Français | Apocalypse |
| Deutsch | Apokalypse, Offenbarung |
| Italiano | Apocalisse |
| Ελληνικά | Αποκάλυψη Apokálypsi |
| Română | Apocalipsă |
| Русский | Апокали́псис Apokalípsis |
| Tiếng Việt | Khải Huyền |
| العربية | رُؤْيَا ruʔyā, كَشْف kašf |
| עברית | אפוקליפסה, חזון |
name the written account of a revelation of hidden things given by God to a chosen prophet
| Español | Apocalipsis |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 묵시록 muksirok |
| 日本語 | 黙示録 Mokushiroku |
| Kiswahili | Ufunuo |
| Português | Apocalipse |
| Français | apocalypse |
| Deutsch | Apokalypse, Offenbarung |
| Italiano | apocalisse |
| Ελληνικά | Αποκάλυψη Apokálypsi |
| Română | apocalipsă |
| Русский | апокали́псис apokalípsis |
| العربية | رُؤْيَا ruʔyā, كَشْف kašf |
| עברית | אפוקליפסה, חזון |
Talk about this word "apocalypse." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/apocalypse. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. apocalypse. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/apocalypse "apocalypse." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/apocalypse.Cite this
@misc{apocalypse_2026,
title = {apocalypse},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/apocalypse},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
