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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Exodus: Definition, Usage & Real-World Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：departure en masse (exodus)

exodus 🔊

/ˈeksədəs/

When a large number of people leave a place together, often in a short time.

Exodus definition illustrated by a mass of people leaving a town at dusk.

departure en masse 🔊

➕

/dɪˈpɑːrtʃər ɒn ˈmæs/

A sudden or large-scale departure of a group of people from one place to another.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'exodos' (a going out), from 'ex-' (out) + 'hodos' (way, road).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a group EXiting a place all at Once, causing a chaotic, large-scale DepartUre.

📖 Example

After the factory closed, there was a mass exodus of workers from the small town, seeking jobs in bigger cities. 🔊 Following the shutdown of the factory, a huge number of workers collectively left the small town to find employment in larger urban areas.

🔗 Collocations

mass exodus – a very large-scale departure of people

exodus from – the act of many people leaving a specific place

exodus of – a departure characterized by a particular group (e.g., exodus of talent)

🔄 Synonyms

departure (n.) – the act of leaving a place

migration (n.) – movement of people from one region to another

flight (n.) – a sudden hurried departure, often to escape something

🚫 Antonyms

influx (n.) – a large arrival or flow of people into a place

arrival (n.) – the act of coming to a place

immigration (n.) – the act of coming to live permanently in a foreign country

📖 Cultural Story

The term 'exodus' is directly derived from the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, referring to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt under Moses' leadership, as narrated in the Book of Exodus. This pivotal event gave the word its core meaning of a large, organized departure.

Meaning 2：mass animal migration (exodus)

exodus 🔊

/ˈeksədəs/

A large-scale movement of animals away from an area, often seasonal.

Exodus concept shown by a massive flock of birds migrating away at sunset.

mass animal migration 🔊

➕

/mæs ˈænɪməl maɪˈɡreɪʃən/

A large-scale, often seasonal, movement of animals away from one area to another.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The annual exodus of monarch butterflies to Mexico is one of nature's most spectacular sights. 🔊 The yearly large-scale migration of monarch butterflies traveling to Mexico is considered one of the most amazing phenomena in the natural world.

🔗 Collocations

annual exodus – a large-scale movement that happens every year

seasonal exodus – a migration tied to a particular season (e.g., winter)

exodus to – the movement of animals towards a specific destination

🔄 Synonyms

migration (n.) – seasonal movement of animals from one region to another

flight (n.) – the movement of a flock of birds through the air

swarm (n.) – a large, dense group of insects or small animals moving together

🚫 Antonyms

gathering (n.) – a coming together of animals in one place

aggregation (n.) – a group formed by animals clustering together

convergence (n.) – the process of animals meeting at a common point