phenomenon

phenomenon — noun

1. a thing, event, or change that people can notice directly, especially one that s

1.名詞C1
釋義

a thing, event, or change that people can notice directly, especially one that seems unusual or worth attention.

例句

Northern lights are a natural phenomenon that drew tourists to Iceland.

natural phenomenon

Doctors still cannot explain the strange phenomenon seen in the twins.

同義詞
  • event

    broader everyday word; less often used for something studied or remarkable

  • occurrence

    more formal and often used for something that happens at a particular time

  • effect

    best when the focus is on a visible result or change

  • pattern

    suggests repeated behavior or a repeated kind of event

文法句型

a phenomenon

a natural/social/cultural phenomenon

phenomenon of + noun

phenomenon in + field

用法筆記

Often appears with adjectives such as natural, social, cultural, strange, or global. Common in scientific or explanatory writing; for an ordinary everyday happening, speakers usually choose simpler words like event or thing.

常見錯誤

❌Many strange phenomenon were reported last night.
✅Many strange phenomena were reported last night.
💡'phenomenon' is singular; the usual plural form is 'phenomena'.
❌The storm was a phenomenon weather.
✅The storm was a weather phenomenon.
💡'phenomenon' is a noun, so it comes after the describing word.

2. an unusually successful and admired person, product, or other thing that attract

2.名詞C1
釋義

an unusually successful and admired person, product, or other thing that attracts wide attention.

例句

By sixteen, Mei had become a chess phenomenon in Taipei.

a phenomenon in + field

The young singer was a social media phenomenon across Asia.

同義詞
  • sensation

    stresses sudden fame and public excitement

  • prodigy

    usually for a young person with unusual ability, not for products or trends

  • star

    common for admired people, especially performers or athletes

  • hit

    best for successful songs, shows, products, or events rather than people

反義詞
  • failure

    general opposite for someone or something that does not succeed

  • flop

    informal word for a show, product, or plan that fails badly

文法句型

be a phenomenon

become a phenomenon

a phenomenon in + field

a sales/social media phenomenon

用法筆記

Usually follows an area word such as chess, basketball, sales, or social media, or appears after verbs like be and become. Distinguish it from sense 1: this sense is about standout success or fame, not a fact or event that people observe or study.

常見錯誤

❌Mei is phenomenon in chess.
✅Mei is a phenomenon in chess.
💡singular countable nouns need an article here.
❌The app became very phenomenon last summer.
✅The app became a phenomenon last summer.' or 'The app became phenomenal last summer.
💡use the noun with an article, or switch to the adjective 'phenomenal'.