marvelous

adjective

mar·​vel·​ous ˈmärv-(ə-)ləs 

variants or chiefly British marvellous

1

: causing wonder : astonishing

the marvelous directional sense of migrating birds

2

: miraculous, supernatural

Gothic tales of marvelous and bizarre happenings

3

: of the highest kind or quality : notably superior

has a marvelous way with children

marvelously adverb

or chiefly British marvellously

marvelously inventive

sang marvelously

marvelousness noun

or chiefly British marvellousness

Synonyms of marvelous

• wonderful
• amazing
• astonishing
• miraculous
• surprising
• incredible
• stunning
• sublime

Examples of marvelous in a Sentence

We had a marvelous time at the party.

He has a marvelous way with children.

The weather was simply marvelous.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jamaica’s official language and civilizational ideal was the Queen’s English, but the island’s lingua franca was the marvelous variant of that tongue called patois. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

Budapest has marvelous music and museums, and plenty to see and do, and this is a splendid—and central—place to stay to start exploring. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

The epoxy will do a marvelous job of filling the crack and staying put. — Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026

Mile after mile, the American landscape is dotted with marvelous nature, maximum kitsch and everything in between. — Sarah Silbiger, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English merveillous, borrowed from Anglo-French, from merveille marvel entry 1 + -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for marvelous

• marvellous

Kids Definition

marvelous

adjective

mar·​vel·​ous

variants or marvellous

ˈmärv-(ə-)ləs 

1

: causing wonder or astonishment

2

: having the characteristics of a miracle

3

: of the highest kind or quality : splendid

we had a marvelous time

marvelously adverb

marvelousness noun