gorgeous

1 of 2

adjective

gor·​geous ˈgȯr-jəs 

1

a

: splendidly or showily brilliant or magnificent

a gorgeous view

the bird's gorgeous plumage

gorgeous music

b

: very attractive

a gorgeous young man/woman

a gorgeous red dress

2

: very pleasant or delightful

a gorgeous summer afternoon

It's luscious, with … flavors that will be gorgeous with steak.

—Wine Enthusiast Magazine

gorgeously adverb

gorgeousness noun

gorgeousness

2 of 2

noun

gor·​geous·​ness

: the quality or state of being gorgeous

Did you know?

In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning “throat,” was the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. A beautiful headdress was so much the mark of a fashionable lady that Gorgias then became an adjective meaning “elegant” or “fond of dress.” Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of “beautiful” that it has today.

Synonyms of gorgeous

Adjective

• beautiful
• lovely
• cute
• handsome
• attractive
• pretty
• stunning

Choose the Right Synonym for gorgeous

splendid, resplendent, gorgeous, glorious, sublime, superb mean extraordinarily or transcendently impressive.

splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.

the wedding was a splendid occasion

resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.

resplendent in her jewelry

gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.

a gorgeous red dress

glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.

a glorious sunset

sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.

a vision of sublime beauty

superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.

her singing was superb

Examples of gorgeous in a Sentence

Adjective

The difference in appearance can be dramatic, as I saw on a visit to the small, modern factory where Pineider prints its stationery, in a gorgeous part of Tuscany near Florence and bordering Chianti. —Corby Kummer, Atlantic, May 2001

In the Arlberg … my wife and I were taken to the most perfect dinner by an elderly Viennese couple and their gorgeous young daughter, whom we had met in Washington. —Geoffrey Wolff, Granta, Autumn 1990

Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. —L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900

Your baby is absolutely gorgeous!

sunsets in Hawaii are just gorgeous

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Rota’s gorgeous score swells sweetly as this affair is sketched, but Mario — older and wiser, to quote the Rodgers and Hammerstein song — has his doubts about a man who seems to him like a cad. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

The leaves have a pattern of green, marron, pink, and white in them that is unbelievably gorgeous. — Dr. Matthew Lisy, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026

The Lims moved into a three-bedroom, three-bath apartment in Flic en Flac, a small coastal town with gorgeous sunsets on the west side of Mauritius’ main island of the same name. — William P. Barrett, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

This is such a lovely lip oil that really delivers the most gorgeous pigment (not too much, not too little) in a really hydrating formula. — Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English gorgeouse, from Middle French gorgias elegant, perhaps from gorgias wimple, from gorge throat

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

gorgeous

adjective

gor·​geous ˈgȯr-jəs 

: having an impressive beauty

a gorgeous sunset

gorgeously adverb

gorgeousness noun

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English gorgeouse "very showy, splendid," from early French gorgias "elegant," from gorgias "headdress, wimple," from gorge "part of the wimple covering the throat, throat"

Word Origin

In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning "throat," was then the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. Perhaps because a beautiful headdress was the mark of a fashionable lady, gorgias seems to have become an adjective meaning "elegant" or "fond of dress." Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of "beautiful" which it has today.