interjection / noun
eureka
yoo-REE-kuh/juˈriːkə/
A sudden discovery or realization.
Eureka, the final puzzle piece fits that last remaining gap!
Etymology
The Greek verb “to find” appears here in a form meaning “I have found it!” That completed discovery becomes an exclamation of sudden, triumphant realization.
In context
it takes months and months and months to get the vaccine after it's developed into people's arms you just it isn't somebody jumping up in a lab and saying Eureka
More examples
- I have a eureka moment when I turn the map around.
- "Eureka! That's why the door won't close."
- His eureka moment leads to a much simpler design.
Forms
eureka · eurekas
Similar words
- insight
- Emphasizes clear understanding, which need not arrive suddenly.
- breakthrough
- Emphasizes major progress past an obstacle, not necessarily sudden understanding.
- revelation
- Can involve surprising information disclosed by someone else.