era

noun

ˈer-ə How to pronounce era (audio)
Definition of eranext
as in day
an extent of time associated with a particular person or thing the introduction of the mass production of cars on an assembly line ushered in the era of the automobile

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun era differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of era are age, epoch, and period. While all these words mean "a division of time," era suggests a period of history marked by a new or distinct order of things.

the era of global communications

When might age be a better fit than era?

While in some cases nearly identical to era, age is used frequently of a fairly definite period dominated by a prominent figure or feature.

the age of Samuel Johnson

Where would epoch be a reasonable alternative to era?

While the synonyms epoch and era are close in meaning, epoch applies to a period begun or set off by some significant or striking quality, change, or series of events.

the steam engine marked a new epoch in industry

When would period be a good substitute for era?

In some situations, the words period and era are roughly equivalent. However, period may designate an extent of time of any length.

periods of economic prosperity

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of era Only in our current cultural moment, the stakes and outcomes are distorted in ways an artist of Simone’s era could never recognize. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2025 But Oberon was no self-hating, assimilationist stooge of whiteness; instead, the social and political conditions of her era forced her to pass. — Mayukh Sen, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2025 The moves signal confidence in the future of in-store shopping—but also raise questions about whether a bricks-and-mortar-led approach is enough to future-proof the brand in an era where convenience and conscious consumption are shifting the retail landscape. — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025 In an era of rampant method dressing, Moore and her longtime stylist Brad Goreski ran a masterclass in subtlety. — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
  1. day
  2. age
  3. time
  4. period
  5. epoch
Noun
  • Talk about the purrfect way to start the day! Crush, a cat from Frederick Maryland, has an important job every morning when his baby sister Cora wakes up: Bedhead groomer!
    — Kendall Malinchock, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Wilmore's total across three flights will stand at 464 days aloft.
    — William Harwood, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of day
Noun
  • Nine of the 15 surviving victims are male and six are female, with ages ranging from 16 to 36, according to police.
    — Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Nine male and six female victims ranging in age from 16 to 36 were injured, police said.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of age
Noun
  • But at this time, that’s not what’s going through his head.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 24 Mar. 2025
  • While some of the most famous innovations were truly remarkable individuals coming up with the right idea at the right time, the history of innovation has had relatively few Leonardo da Vincis, Isaac Newtons, Marie Curies, or Charles Babbages.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of time
Noun
  • That is down a little from the 6.74% registered in the same period a year ago.
    — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
  • During a period of unusually heavy rain in Chad last year in the late summer and early fall, parts of the country were inundated with flooding so bad that houses began to collapse.
    — Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of period
Noun
  • Modern Southern Appalachia was much warmer during the Pliocene epoch, which lured prehistoric mammal species east after crossing the Bering Land Bridge.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Feb. 2025
  • With a few glaring homages to Jean-Luc Godard, among other nods to the epoch, the film plays more like historical pastiche than original material.
    — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of epoch

Browse Nearby Words

equivocators
era
eradicate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on era

Nglish: Translation of era for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about era

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