New Delhi:
‘Manifest’ has been awarded the title of Word of the Year by Cambridge Dictionary for 2024. The English word manifest was searched almost 130,000 times on the Cambridge Dictionary’s website, making it one of the most viewed words of the year. The manifest gained immense popularity on social media and in main stream conversations. Because of which this word got this special attention.
What does manifest mean?
Cambridge writes that the word is often used to imagine achieving a goal in order to make it more possible, a belief based on a 100-year-old spiritual philosophy. Popular in the self-help community and social media, this term has been used extensively in mainstream media. Celebrities like singer Duda Lipa, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and England striker Ollie Watkins also use this word.
Where did the word manifest come from?
According to the Times of India, the Cambridge Dictionary, the world’s largest free online dictionary, recorded more than 2.4 billion page views in 2024. Its editors also shed light on how the manifesto has evolved over its 600-year history. The word “manifest,” which was used in the 14th century to mean “easily seen or evident,” later appeared in American politics with the term “manifest destiny.”
Shakespeare, the world famous writer for his great works, used manifest as an adjective in The Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare used manifest as an adjective in The Merchant of Venice. Along with manifest, other top words of 2024 include ‘brat’ (child who misbehaves), ‘demure’ (quiet and well-behaved), ‘Goldilocks’ (describing something correctly) and ‘ecotarian’ Also included.
Manifest popular on social media
The use of this word increased during Covid and it continued to increase. It was used extensively especially on TikTok and other social media platforms. Where the hashtag #manifest has been used in millions of posts and videos. The word manifest was chosen this time because it was used extensively. Which is amazing in itself. Due to the events taking place in 2024, it has been used extensively in all types of media. This shows how the meaning of a word can change over time.
However, experts warn that despite its popularity, the manifest has no scientific validity. This can promote wrong and dangerous beliefs. Dr Sander van der Linden, author of The Psychology of Misinformation and professor of social psychology at Cambridge, said: “The manifestation is what psychologists call ‘magical thinking’, or the common misconception that specific mental rituals can change the world around us.” Can.
