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 Microsoft is reorienting its Copilot AI brand and its leading software for the AI era. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 The dramatic finale quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the weekend — and, possibly, another hint that McRae was ready to move into a new era. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2026 The museum is expected to show how certain topics in African American history, like the Underground Railroad and the Reconstruction era, are connected. — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026 The only other teams in the Super Bowl era to start the season 0-4 despite leading at any point in the fourth quarter in three of the games were the 2013 Bucs and 2011 Vikings. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for era
Recent Examples of Synonyms for era
Noun
  • Mbappé did, however, post a video of himself cycling on social media over the weekend, days after his Real Madrid manager, José Mourinho, said that activity is one soccer players should avoid.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Some 10 days after the attack, the soldiers were loaded onto a cargo plane.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Of all the factors that can increase a person’s risk of breast cancer, age is among the most significant.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The island’s permanent Art House invites guests—of all ages—to get creative on canvas or pottery with the guidance of its resident artist.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Bryan pushed back at the time, arguing that the song spoke to both sides of the aisle and urging fans not to let social media narratives divide them.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The last time the Congress voted to go to year-round Daylight Saving Time was during the Nixon years.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Each episode follows one garden over an extended period, capturing animal behavior rarely witnessed by human eyes – from raising families and defending territories to hunting, courting and surviving the changing seasons.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Only 1,221 entered over the same period, through subsidiaries, factories or representative offices, the fewest on record outside the Covid-19 pandemic.
    — Anniek Bao,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But more massive PBHs would last longer, with those roughly the mass of an asteroid enduring to evaporate in our current cosmic epoch.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The hero – rather than old technology – is an epoch of cosmological history called Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, or BBN.
    — Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Era.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/era. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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