1. the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines
Usage: rhetoric; literary

Examples

• Martin Luther King Jr. used anaphora when he repeated ‘I have a dream’ at the start of several sentences.
• The poem’s anaphora created a powerful rhythmic effect.
• Churchill’s speech employed anaphora with the phrase ‘We shall fight’ repeated throughout.
• The teacher explained how anaphora can make writing more persuasive.
• Shakespeare often used anaphora to emphasize key themes in his plays.
• The student identified the anaphora in the opening lines of the sonnet.