Cambridge Dictionary has chosen “Manifest” as the word of the year for 2024. Popstar Dua Lipa and gymnast Simone Biles have both publicly talked about manifesting their success. The term has gained popularity, with almost 130,000 searches on the Cambridge Dictionary website. The current definition means “to imagine achieving something you want, believing it will increase the chances of it happening.”
Despite its rise in popularity, Dr. Sander van der Linden, a professor of social psychology at Cambridge University, says there is no scientific validity behind the idea of manifesting. He refers to it as “magical thinking” and believes positive thinking and goal setting have value but are not the same as manifesting.
The word manifest has evolved over time. It was initially used as an adjective in Geoffrey Chaucer’s work, meaning “easily noticed or obvious.” By Shakespeare’s time, it had taken on the meaning of ‘shown clearly through signs or actions.’ In the 20th century, it became a verb meaning ‘to appear,’ usually in relation to ghosts or spirits.
The word has taken on a new meaning in modern times, influenced by social media and popular culture. However, experts caution against seeing manifesting as a valid method for achieving goals. While the word has changed over time, its current usage reflects a shift towards a more self-driven approach to achieving success.
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