Meanings
alternative epochmaking
- not comparableConstituting an epoch; opening a new era; introducing new conceptions or a new method in the treatment of a subject; highly novel and influential.
The play itself was "sound," though not epoch-making. The performance of the leading lady was satisfactory and exactly what was to be expected from her.
1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC2 more examples
Equally to be expected, in view of the trend of Government legislation and pronouncements over the past few years—but no less epoch-making for that—is the proposal that the railways and canals shall cease to be common carriers and be entirely free to fix their own passenger and freight charges, […].
1961 December, “Editorial: Führerprinzip for nationalised transport”, in Trains Illustrated, page 705The prime minister, Tony Blair, described the terrorist attacks on America as having "epoch-making proportions" as parliament was recalled for an emergency session today.
2001 September 14, Matthew Tempest, quoting Tony Blair, “Blair: attacks are of 'epoch-making proportions'”, in The GuardianSynonyms: earthshaking, earthshattering
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveConstituting an epoch; opening a new era; introducing new conceptions or a new method in the treatment of a subject; highly novel and influential.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectivehighly significant or important especially bringing about or marking the beginning of a new development or era
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Germanepochemachend
- Englishepoch-making
Calque of German epochemachend.
More words from German
Full word history & related roots →Translations
German epochemachend
- epochemachendconstituting an epoch
Japanese 画期的
- 画期的 (kakkiteki)constituting an epoch
Cite this entry
epoch-making. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epoch-making
“epoch-making.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epoch-making. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “epoch-making,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/epoch-making.
Source: epoch-making on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.