What does "odyssey" mean?
An extended adventurous voyage, usually in search of home.
Odyssey
/ˈɑ.dɪ.si/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An extended adventurous voyage, usually in search of home.
- Grammar: odyssey is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: career journey, journey, life quest, personal evolution.
- Useful contrasts: brief detour, brief journey, short detour.
- Usage evidence: Its detractors agree that it is more than a humans-in-space odyssey — even if they do not agree on why that is so.
How to use "odyssey"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "odyssey" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "odyssey" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "odyssey" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "odyssey" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "odyssey" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "career journey" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "odyssey", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An extended adventurous voyage, usually in search of home.
"Many have been sharing cartoons praying for a successful conclusion to the Wild Boar team's odyssey, hoping that it will end in their safe rescue."
- 2 a long wandering and eventful journey wordnet
- 3 An intellectual or spiritual quest.
Proper Noun
- 1 An epic poem, ascribed to Homer, that describes the journey of Odysseus after the fall of Troy.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
brief detourbrief journeyshort detourshort trip
Example
"Its detractors agree that it is more than a humans-in-space odyssey — even if they do not agree on why that is so."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "odyssey"?
Common synonyms include: career journey, journey, life quest, personal evolution, quest, questing.
How do you use "odyssey" in a sentence?
Its detractors agree that it is more than a humans-in-space odyssey — even if they do not agree on why that is so.
How do you pronounce "odyssey"?
Pronounced /ˈɑ.dɪ.si/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Odyssey, from Ancient Greek Ὀδυσσεία (Odusseía, “the story of Odysseus”).
Etymology 2
From Ancient Greek Ὀδύσσεια (Odússeia, “the story of Odysseus”).