episode

episode — noun

1. a particular event, situation, or short period that stands out as one part of a

1.nounB2
Definition

a particular event, situation, or short period that stands out as one part of a longer series or process

Example

Ritu told us about a strange episode that happened during her first month at university.

episode + that-clause for describing a past event

The investigation uncovered several troubling episodes from the company's early days.

Common collocations
  • embarrassing episode
  • strange episode
  • troubling episode
  • episode of violence
  • episode in history
  • sad episode
  • brief episode
Synonyms
  • incident

    more sudden or negative; does not necessarily imply a larger series

  • event

    more general; any happening without the sense of being part of a broader narrative

  • occurrence

    more formal and neutral; simply something that happens

Grammar Patterns

episode + of + noun

episode + that-clause

Usage Note

Often modified by adjectives that indicate the emotional tone of the situation (embarrassing, strange, sad, violent). Common in historical or biographical narratives.

Common Mistakes

The car accident was an episode that lasted two seconds.
The car accident was an incident that lasted two seconds.
'episode' suggests a larger story or pattern, while 'incident' works better for isolated, sudden events.
She told me about a nice episode at the park.
She told me about a nice time at the park.
'episode' is too formal for casual positive everyday moments; use a simpler word.

2. a short, sudden time when symptoms of a health problem appear, especially if the

2.nounB2
Definition

a short, sudden time when symptoms of a health problem appear, especially if the condition is long-lasting or returns repeatedly

Example

Sivan's grandmother had a severe asthma episode and needed oxygen treatment at the hospital.

collocation: asthma episode / depressive episode / manic episode

The doctor warned Tamar that a depressive episode could follow the stressful exam period.

Common collocations
  • acute episode
  • severe episode
  • asthma episode
  • depressive episode
  • manic episode
  • episode of illness
  • fainting episode
  • psychotic episode
Synonyms
  • attack

    more sudden and intense; common with asthma, heart conditions (e.g. heart attack)

  • bout

    informal; suggests a temporary period, often of illness or negative feelings (e.g. bout of flu)

  • spell

    milder; a short period of feeling unwell (e.g. dizzy spell)

Antonyms
  • remission

    a period when symptoms of a chronic condition reduce or disappear

Grammar Patterns

episode + of + illness/symptom

Usage Note

Frequently paired with a specific medical condition (asthma episode, depressive episode, manic episode). In clinical writing, 'acute episode' is common. Distinguish from the more general sense 1 by the presence of a health condition.

Common Mistakes

He had an episode of cold last week.
He had a cold last week.
'episode' is used for chronic or recurring conditions, not common short-term illnesses.
She suffered an episode of sadness after the movie.
She felt sad after the movie.
overusing 'episode' for normal emotions sounds unnatural and overly clinical.

3. a single installment of a television or radio programme that moves the story for

3.nounA2
Definition

a single installment of a television or radio programme that moves the story forward from one point to the next

Example

Amihan watches a new episode of her favourite drama every Tuesday evening without fail.

The final episode of the series brought all the main characters together one last time.

ordinal + episode: final episode / first episode / second episode

Common collocations
  • first episode
  • final episode
  • new episode
  • last night's episode
  • pilot episode
  • episode airs
  • watch an episode
  • episode of a show
Synonyms
  • installment

    more formal; used for any part of a serialized work, including books or films

  • part

    more general; can refer to any portion of a story

  • segment

    a distinct section within a show, often shorter than a full episode

Grammar Patterns

ordinal + episode

episode + of + show name

Usage Note

The most common and accessible sense for learners. Frequently used with ordinal numbers (first, second, final) or as part of a title (Episode 5). In streaming contexts, 'episode' is the basic unit of content, shorter than a season or series.

Common Mistakes

I watched an episode of a movie yesterday.
I watched a movie yesterday.
films are not divided into episodes; use 'episode' only for series.
This episode is my favourite chapter of the show.
This episode is my favourite part of the show.
'chapter' is for books, not TV shows.

Word family

  • episodic
    adjectiveC1
  • episodically
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

These words all refer to a section of a larger work, but they differ in scope and context. 'Episode' is the standard term for a single unit of a television or radio series — it is the most common and recognizable word for learners. 'Installment' is slightly more formal and can apply to serialized works in any medium, including novels released chapter by chapter or films released in parts. 'Part' is the most general term and works for any piece of a whole, but it lacks the specific serialized connotation that 'episode' carries. 'Segment' usually refers to a shorter, self-contained piece within a single show, such as a news segment or a comedy sketch within a variety program. For example: 'The second episode of the crime drama aired last night' sounds natural, while 'The second segment of the crime drama' would suggest a smaller piece within one broadcast.

episode ↗installmentpart ↗segment ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • episode airs
  • episode features
  • episode ends

Phrases

  • a series of episodes
  • the whole episode

Prepositions

  • during the episode
  • in the episode
  • throughout the episode

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Comes from the Greek word 'epeisodion', meaning 'a coming in besides' — the part of a Greek tragedy that was inserted between choral songs. The term entered English via Latin ('episodium') and French ('épisode'). Originally a theatrical term, it gradually expanded to mean any distinctive event within a larger sequence, and later took on its medical and television meanings.