**Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year is ‘Manifest’**

Cambridge Dictionary has revealed its Word of the Year, and the selected term is *manifest*. The word surpassed other competitors such as *brat* (drawn from [Charli XCX’s album](https://mashable.com/article/charli-xcx-brat-remix-album-memes) sharing the same title), *ecotarian*, and *resilience*.

### SEE ALSO: [We’re living through the age of delusion](https://mashable.com/article/delulu-explained)

As defined by Cambridge Dictionary, *manifest* as a verb refers to “utilizing techniques like visualization and affirmation to envision attaining something desired, with the belief that this will make it more probable to occur.” The term was chosen based on its high frequency of searches, with over 130,000 inquiries.

The dictionary highlights that in 2024, *manifest* evolved from its primary usage within the self-help circle and on [social media](https://mashable.com/category/social-media) to attaining significant recognition in mainstream outlets. This surge in interest is linked to celebrity influences and athletes who openly adopted manifestation as a tactic during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nevertheless, the idea of manifestation has been part of public conversations for several years.

Cambridge Dictionary’s [announcement](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/editorial/word-of-the-year) features a chart illustrating the consistent rise of *manifest* over the last five years, reflecting its growing footprint on social media. Notably, the figures do not indicate any major spikes in 2024 compared to earlier years, rendering the selection somewhat surprising.

### SEE ALSO: [‘Very demure’ demonstrates TikTok’s ability to shape modern language](https://mashable.com/article/demure-tiktok-meaning-tiktok-language)

“When determining the Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year, we evaluate three factors: user metrics, cultural relevance, and linguistic interest. We ponder: Which word was looked up the most or experienced a surge in interest? Which word encapsulates the spirit of the year? And what makes this term linguistically captivating?” stated Wendalyn Nichols, publishing manager at Cambridge Dictionary, in the announcement. “*Manifest* distinguished itself this year due to its remarkable increase in lookups, its broader application across different media, and its changing significance over time.”

Since [the pandemic](https://mashable.com/gifts/gifts-for-people-who-manifest), there has been a noticeable rise in manifestation-themed content on [TikTok](https://mashable.com/category/tiktok). In early 2023, the phenomenon of [“Lucky Girl Syndrome”](https://mashable.com/article/lucky-girl-syndrome-tiktok-manifestation) took the platform by storm, motivating women to manifest success by reiterating the affirmation, “I am so lucky; everything works out for me.” The hashtag “Lucky Girl Syndrome” has amassed over 27,000 posts on TikTok.

Here’s to wishing that *manifest* brings good luck in the year ahead!