The word “manifest”meaning to dream or want to create something, has been named the word of 2024 by the Cambridge dictionary, following a celebrity-inspired surge in popularity on social media.

The word dates back – in English at least – to the 1300s, but the dictionary’s decision rests on its newer meaning as a verb, which attests to the power of vision and positive thinking in making your wildest dreams come true.

Singer Dua Lipa attributed her success, which included her Glastonbury show in June, to “manifesting saying: “Manifesting is a big thing for me. I have an unwavering belief that we can change things in the world. Subconsciously, we’re just working in that direction.”

Simone Biles has also credited ‘manifesting’ the success of her sports career after admitting that she envisioned her future success as a young woman.

Wendalyn Nichols, publisher of Cambridge Dictionary, said the word “manifest” had increased significantly in searches this year, with at least 130,000 “clicks” on the Cambridge Dictionary website alone.

Derived from French and Latin, the word spelled “manyfest” was used by the father of English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer, in the late 14th century as an adjective meaning “clear”, “obvious”. Shakespeare used the word as both a noun and a verb, meaning both “obvious”.

The word can also be used as a noun, meaning the full inventory of a ship’s cargo, a usage dating back to 1561, while “manifest destiny” was a term used by US President Andrew Jackson in the decade of 1830 to indicate that it was determined that American settlers should spread west across the continent.

However, the most recent interpretation of the word, of “to express your dreams and make them come true”, it was first recorded only at the beginning of the 20th century, was associated with Spiritualism, and became widespread only more recently. “Manifesting” gained huge popularity during the pandemic on TikTok with billions of views, including the popular 3-6-9 method, which requires one to write their wishes three times in the morning, six times in the afternoon and nine times before from sleep.