revelation

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/ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən/
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The uncovering of hidden truth, a sudden discovery that changes understanding, a divine message, and the New Testament book of symbolic visions.
Practice using revelation in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • She described the vision as a private revelation.
  • The community treated the dream as a divine revelation.
  • That class was a revelation, and she changed her major afterward.
  • For many visitors, the small museum is a revelation.
  • The seminar read Revelation beside other apocalyptic texts.

Similar words

unveiling
insight
vision
manifestation
Revelation to John
oracle
Apocalypse of John
Apocalypse
disclosure
announcement

Meanings

Secret made known

noun
media
neutral
The making known of something hidden, private, or previously unknown, or the fact that comes out.

Usage

Use revelation when a secret, hidden fact, or important unknown detail becomes public or clear.

Examples

  • The revelation of the missing emails changed the investigation.
  • New revelations about the contract appeared in the paper.
  • Her confession was the first revelation of what had happened.
  • The company struggled after the revelation of its debts.
  • No one expected such a damaging revelation from the audit.

Common mistakes

Ordinary announcements are overstated as revelations.
IncorrectCorrect
The bus timetable was a shocking revelation. The bus timetable was a routine announcement.
The article made a revelation of the concert times. The article gave the concert times.
She revelationed the mistake at the meeting. She revealed the mistake at the meeting.
The revelation about his birthday party was printed on the invitation. The announcement about his birthday party was printed on the invitation.

Similar words

disclosure
exposure
unveiling
divulgence
announcement
release

Eye-opening discovery

noun
everyday
neutral
A surprising discovery or experience that changes how something is understood, often for the better.

Usage

Use revelation for a moment, person, or experience that suddenly shows unexpected value or meaning.

Examples

  • The quiet midfielder was a revelation in the final.
  • Cooking with fresh herbs came as a revelation to him.
  • The old letters were a revelation about her courage.
  • For many visitors, the small museum is a revelation.
  • That class was a revelation, and she changed her major afterward.

Common mistakes

Small preferences are inflated into revelations.
IncorrectCorrect
The sandwich was a revelation because it had lettuce. The sandwich was nice because it had lettuce.
The film revelationed her to a new style. The film introduced her to a new style.
His performance was a revelation of bad acting. His performance was a disappointment.
It was a revelation to find my keys where I left them. It was a relief to find my keys where I left them.

Similar words

discovery
insight
realization
eye-opener
breakthrough
surprise

Divine disclosure

noun
religion
neutral
A truth, message, or vision believed to be made known by God or another divine power.

Usage

Use revelation for religious truth presented as coming from divine action rather than ordinary reasoning.

Examples

  • The prophet said the law came through revelation.
  • Many traditions distinguish reason from revelation.
  • She described the vision as a private revelation.
  • The doctrine rests on scripture and revelation.
  • The community treated the dream as a divine revelation.

Common mistakes

Human guesses are confused with divine revelation.
IncorrectCorrect
The committee reached a revelation after checking the figures. The committee reached a conclusion after checking the figures.
He gave a revelation from his own opinion. He gave an opinion of his own.
The prophet revealed a revelation to the people. The prophet received a revelation for the people.
The manual was a revelation from the printer. The manual was an instruction from the printer.

Similar words

vision
prophecy
oracle
inspiration
divine message
manifestation

Book of Revelation

noun
literature
neutral
The final book of the New Testament, an apocalyptic work of symbolic visions addressed to early Christian churches.

Usage

Use Revelation with a capital letter when naming the biblical book, also called the Apocalypse.

Examples

  • Revelation closes the New Testament with vivid symbolic visions.
  • The seminar read Revelation beside other apocalyptic texts.
  • Artists have long borrowed images from Revelation.
  • The seven churches appear early in Revelation.
  • Some readers call Revelation the Apocalypse.

Common mistakes

The biblical title is pluralized or left lowercase.
IncorrectCorrect
She is studying revelations this semester. She is studying Revelation this semester.
The book of revelation appears near the start of the New Testament. The book of Revelation appears at the end of the New Testament.
Revelation is a letter by Moses. Revelation is an apocalyptic book traditionally associated with John.
He quoted the Revelation as if it were a modern novel. He quoted Revelation as an apocalyptic biblical text.

Similar words

Apocalypse
Apocalypse of John
Revelation to John
John's Apocalypse

Usage

Use revelation for disclosure with weight: a secret made known, an insight that changes perspective, divine truth, or the biblical book.

Common mistakes

Routine news is overstated as a revelation, and the biblical title is often wrongly pluralized as Revelations.

Etymology

From Middle English revelacioun, from Anglo-French and Late Latin revelatio, from Latin revelare, meaning to unveil, uncover, or reveal.

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