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aha

aha

12 5.5
A sudden moment when you understand or discover something
  • noun
  • /ɑːˈhɑː/
translation icon : momento de revelación
  • Nice to hear that others have those 'aha' moments that should have seemed obvious ages ago.
  • aha moment

I'm sure you have that aha penny drop moment.

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Examples

  • And that was her biggest aha, take away moment that she stopped.

  • That was an "Aha" moment.

  • This is the point that was the big aha for me, right?

  • The big aha was we were asking the wrong questions.

  • So I think the aha for me was the first person that wanted to pay for software.

  • If you've had an aha! moment in the field, consider writing a personal essay about it.

    Academic text (2009)
  • It's the most profound catalyst to an "aha" moment I've had in my life.

    Blog text (30)
  • I feel like this is the quintessential Oprah aha light bulb moment.

  • And then I think what they were hoping for or assuming would happen is that somebody's going to come along and offer you the answer and that the finale would be this great big aha.

  • When she solved the puzzle, it was an aha moment that made everything clear.

Synonyms

awakening
vsaha
54 4.4

A new understanding that makes you see things differently

focuses on a single sudden instant of realization rather than process
epiphany
vsaha
52 6.6

A sudden clear idea that gives you new understanding

is similar but may be less weighty or life changing
eye-opener
vsaha
16 4.4

An experience that makes you see something in a new way

refers to an internal sudden discovery rather than a broad experience
aha moment
vsaha
5 4.1

A sudden moment when you clearly understand something after confusion

is the same sudden realization but described without emotional context
brainwave
vsaha
2 5.1

A sudden clever idea that solves a problem

covers sudden understanding generally, not only clever problem solving
eye opener
vsaha
1 3.9

A surprising event or fact that teaches you something new

means a sudden internal understanding rather than an external event
light-bulb moment
vsaha
  • Informal
1 3.9

A sudden time when you understand something clearly

is the same brief sudden understanding without a visual metaphor
to light bulb go off
vsaha
  • Informal
1 5.1

Suddenly understand something when an idea appears in your mind

expresses sudden understanding without implying a visual flash
anagnorisis
vsaha
  • Literature
9.9

A sudden moment in a story or play when a character understands something important about themselves

is the same sudden realization but not limited to stories

Compounds

5 4.1

A sudden moment when you clearly understand something after confusion

How Insightful

epiphany
52 6.6
aha
12 5.5
realization
  • US
120 3.6

Surface Forms

aha singular
ahas plural

Etymology

An aha is the sudden moment of understanding or discovery, like the short aha sound when a new idea appears. So, an aha is the instant you finally 'get' something.