Meaning & use
anaphora
The deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginnings of nearby clauses, sentences, or lines.
See it in a sentence
The speech uses anaphora in the lines 'We will listen. We will learn. We will act.'
Mina created anaphora by beginning each verse with 'Let the river.'
A note on using this word
In rhetoric, anaphora repeats openings for emphasis or rhythm. Repetition at the ends of clauses is a different device, called epistrophe.
Words with a similar meaning
This term is best learned through its definition and examples.
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
In grammar, the use of an expression to refer back to something mentioned earlier.
In 'I found a shell and kept it,' the word 'it' illustrates anaphora.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “anaphora”, then compare your use with the examples above.