Something that is historic is important in history, or likely to be considered important at some time in the future.
King gave this historic speech the night before he was assassinated.
...a fourth historic election victory.
Synonyms: significant, notable, momentous, famous More Synonyms of historic
historic in British English
(hɪˈstɒrɪk)
adjective
1.
famous or likely to become famous in history; significant
2. a less common word for historical (sense 1), historical (sense 2), historical (sense 3), historical (sense 4), historical (sense 5)
3. Also: secondary linguistics
(of Latin, Greek, or Sanskrit verb tenses) referring to past time
▶ USAGE A distinction is usually made between historic (important, significant) and historical (pertaining to history): a historic decision; a historical perspective
historic in American English
(hɪsˈtɔrɪk; hɪsˈtɑrɪk)
adjective
1.
having, or likely to have, lasting significance or importance
a historic occasion
2. Rare
historical
Word origin
L historicus < Gr historikos
Examples of 'historic' in a sentence
historic
We are at a historic cultural moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They look at it as a historic opportunity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The last 12 momentous months have given Britain a historic opportunity for a better future.
The Sun (2016)
Yet precisely because so much of how he will govern is uncertain, he has a historic opportunity to confound his doubters and prove himself a genuine reformer.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It was my privilege to witness this historic moment.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
So what could have been more important than the historic summit?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
An historic victory for both them and football.
The Sun (2012)
This is an historic opportunity for press reform.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Historic boats are no less important than historic houses.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Was this a memorable historic moment?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But then the historic moment came.
The Sun (2015)
Yet the past three decades have been a time of historic change in northeast England.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
While today is an historic victory, our struggles have just begun.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is an historic and unique opportunity to build a new world and this opportunity we do not want to see pass by.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
At less than ten times historic ebitda, the valuation looks reasonable.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This historic missed opportunity has proved extremely costly, both to the economy and to the environment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They knew they were witnessing a historic moment, but perhaps not the one they were expecting.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's an historic opportunity to build new ties.
The Sun (2016)
Notwithstanding, it remains true that there are few people who can grasp the historic moment.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
Because for a restaurant with a view of a famous historic thing, that is getting off lightly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I think we have a historic opportunity for peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There was a shortage not only of important historic examples, but of the scholarship that went with them.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Their locations are ideal for exploring historic sites, famous houses and delightful countryside as well as for sporting activities.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Within historic times it also occurred in Poland and Germany.
Burton, John A. Animals of the World (1993)
In other languages
historic
British English: historic ADJECTIVE
Something that is historic is important in history, or likely to be considered important at some time in the future.
The country is on the verge of an historic change of government.
American English: historic
Brazilian Portuguese: histórico
Chinese: 有重大历史意义的
European Spanish: histórico
French: historique
German: historisch
Italian: storico
Japanese: 歴史上重要な
Korean: 역사적인
European Portuguese: histórico
Latin American Spanish: histórico
All related terms of 'historic'
past historic
the simple past
historic present
the present tense used to narrate past events, usually employed in English for special effect or in informal use, as in a week ago I'm walking down the street and I see this accident
historic allegation
An allegation is a statement saying that someone has done something wrong .
historic episcopate
the derivation of the episcopate of a Church in historic succession from the apostles
historic importance
The importance of something is its quality of being significant , valued, or necessary in a particular situation .
Historic Places Trust
(in New Zealand ) the statutory body concerned with the conservation of historic buildings, esp with ancient M āori sites
Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
→ The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England
an organization, partly funded by government aid , that looks after ancient monuments and historic buildings in England
important in history, or likely to be seen as important in the future
the historic changes in Eastern Europe
Synonyms
significant
It is the first drug that seems to have a significant effect on this disease.
notable
The most notable architectural feature of the town is its castle.
momentous
the momentous decision to send in the troops
famous
England's most famous landscape artist, John Constable
celebrated
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.
extraordinary
He is an extraordinary musician.
outstanding
an outstanding tennis player
remarkable
He was a remarkable man.
ground-breaking
consequential
From a medical standpoint, a week is usually not a consequential delay.
red-letter
epoch-making
Opposites
ordinary
,
unknown
,
unimportant
,
uncelebrated
Usage note
Although historic and historical are similarly spelt they are very different in meaning and should not be used interchangeably. A distinction is usually made between historic, which means `important' or `significant', and historical, which means `pertaining to history': a historic decision; a historical perspective.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of celebrated
Definition
well known
He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.
Synonyms
renowned,
popular,
famous,
outstanding,
distinguished,
well-known,
prominent,
glorious,
acclaimed,
notable,
eminent,
revered,
famed,
illustrious,
pre-eminent,
lionized
in the sense of consequential
Definition
important or significant
From a medical standpoint, a week is usually not a consequential delay.