Anaphora
noun /əˈnæf.ər.ə/ — The repetition of a phrase at the start of successive clauses
Definition
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or verses — creating rhythm, emphasis, and cumulative power.
Beyond the definition
The heartbeat of a speech. Anaphora builds with each repetition — each returning phrase heavier than the last.
Origin & history
From Greek 'anaphora' (a carrying back) — 'ana' (back, again) + 'phora' (carrying). The carrying back of the phrase to the beginning of each new clause.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
'I have a dream that... I have a dream that...' King's use of anaphora is among the most powerful in modern oratory.
She structured her argument with anaphora — each 'Because...' built inexorably toward her conclusion.
Anaphora turns repetition into momentum. It is not redundancy — it is gathering weight.
Synonyms
repetition, restatement, epiphora, epistrophe
Related words
- rhetoric
- chiasmus
- alliteration
- rhetoric-persuasion
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Diverse Interconnected Natural Abundance
A dense woodland scene where sunlight filters onto a floor covered in diverse plants, moss, and tiny insects, illustrating layers of vibrant growth.
Anaphora is the repetition of words at the start of clauses to create rhythm and power. The repeating, layered patterns of diverse plants and mosses in the forest floor function as a visual analogy for anaphora—where each similar element adds to the cumulative effect and rhythmic beauty of the entire scene.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration