United Kingdom: ‘Manifest’, a word meaning to dream or will something into existence, has been named the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2024, following its surge in popularity due to celebrity endorsements and social media trends.
Though ‘manifest’ is not a new term, its modern usage as a verb, reflecting the power of visualisation and positive thinking in achieving dreams, has gained considerable traction.
Originally an adjective meaning “clear” or “obvious,” the word has been in the English language since at least the 1300s. However, its contemporary meaning -to speak or think dreams into reality has captured the public’s imagination, fueled by celebrities such as singer Dua Lipa and gymnast Simone Biles, both of whom have openly credited manifestation practices for their success.
Dua Lipa, who headlined Glastonbury this year, shared her belief in the practice, saying, “Manifesting is a big thing for me. I stand very firmly in the belief of putting things into the world. Subconsciously, you just work towards them. Nothing’s ever too big.”
Similarly, Biles has spoken about visualising her gymnastics achievements from a young age, attributing much of her success to the concept of manifesting.
Wendalyn Nichols, publishing manager at Cambridge Dictionary, explained that ‘manifest’ had seen a notable increase in lookups, with over 130,000 searches recorded on their website in 2024.
The term’s origins date back to the late 14th century, when it appeared in Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ as an adjective.
Shakespeare also used ‘manifest’ in both its noun and verb forms. In ‘King Lear’, the Duke of Albany describes Edmund’s actions as “heinous, manifest, and many treasons,” while in ‘Twelfth Night’, Malvolio gleefully declares that Olivia “manifests” her love through praise of his yellow stockings.
The word’s usage further evolved in the King James Bible, which reads, “In this was manifested the love of God towards us.”
Sander van der Linden, a social psychology professor at Cambridge University, credits the rise of social media and the pandemic for propelling the term into mainstream culture. Linden explained that TikTok, in particular, has been a significant platform for popularizing manifestation techniques like the “3-6-9 method,” which encourages people to write down their wishes multiple times a day.
Despite the lack of scientific support, the widespread appeal of manifestation continues to thrive, especially as more celebrities share their experiences of using visualisation and affirmation as tools for success.
POPULAR | Great Barrier Reef faces significant Coral loss after Cyclones and Bleaching events
