Cambridge word of the year: The Cambridge Dictionary has named “manifest” as its Word of the Year for 2024, reflecting its surge in popularity due to its association with Gen-Z and the trend of “manifesting.” Looked up almost 130,000 times this year, the term gained traction across social media and mainstream conversations. Cambridge notes that manifest is often used to mean imagining achieving a goal to make it more likely, a belief rooted in a 100-year-old spiritual philosophy.
The Cambridge Dictionary, the world’s largest free online dictionary, recorded over 2.4 billion page views in 2024. Its editors also highlighted how manifest evolved over its 600-year history.
Originating in the 14th century as “manyfest,” meaning ‘easily noticed or obvious,’ the word later appeared in American politics with the term “manifest destiny.” Shakespeare used it in The Merchant of Venice, reflecting on the word’s versatility as an adjective and verb across centuries.
Alongside manifest, other top words of 2024 include ‘brat’ (a misbehaving child), ‘demure’ (quiet and well-behaved), ‘Goldilocks’ (describing something just right), and ‘ecotarian’ (someone who eats sustainably).
Five new words that might be added in Cambridge’s English language dictionary
Beyond the word of the year, Cambridge’s editors continue tracking emerging trends in the English language. Some of these newly coined terms are likely candidates for future dictionary entries, reflecting global cultural and technological shifts.
Here are five words that may soon make it to the dictionary:
| Word | Meaning |
| Quishing | The act of phishing via QR codes. |
| Resenteeism | Staying in a job while harbouring resentment, blending “resent” and “absenteeism.” |
| Gymfluencer | A social media influencer specialising in fitness or bodybuilding content. |
| Cocktail party problem | Difficulty focusing on one voice in a noisy environment, now also applied to AI challenges. |
| Vampire | A device or appliance that consumes energy even when not in use. |
