View synonyms for

carpe diem

[kahr-pe dee-em, kahr-pee dahy-uhm, kahr-pey dee-uhm]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

Latin.��seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future.

carpe diem

/ ˈkɑːpɪ ˈdiːɛm /

enjoy the pleasures of the moment, without concern for the future

Carpe diem

Latin for “Seize the day”: take full advantage of present opportunities. This sentiment is found not only in classical literature but in much of English literature as well (see “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may” and “Had we but world enough, and time, / This coyness, Lady, were no crime.”)

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Carpe diem¹

First recorded in 1815–20; literally, “pluck (the fruit of) the day,” from Horace's Odes (1.9)

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of Carpe diem¹

literally: seize the day!

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Enjoy the present and don't worry about the future, as in It's a beautiful day, so forget tomorrow's test—carpe diem! Latin for “seize the day,” an aphorism found in the Roman writer Horace's Odes, this phrase has been used in English since the early 1800s.

Discover More

When To Use

�� does carpe diem mean?

Carpe diem is a Latin phrase meaning "seize the day." The saying is used to encourage someone to make the most of the present rather than dwelling on the future.

Carpeaux carpel

Browse