magic

play

noun mag·ic \ ˈma-jik \

Definition of magic

1 a :the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces

b :magic rites or incantations

2 a :an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source

Both pitchers, although they are older, haven't lost their magic.

b :something that seems to cast a spell :enchantment

all the mystery, magic and romance which belong to royalty alone
—J. E. P. Grigg

3 :the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand

entertained with acts of jugglery and magic

See magic defined for English-language learners

See magic defined for kids

Examples of magic in a Sentence

children who believe in magic
a book that explains how to do magic
Both pitchers, though they are older, haven't lost their magic.

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

No one knows better than the Royals and their fans what magic could loom in qualifying for the wild card, of course.

— vahe gregorian, kansascity, "Drooping Royals extend slapstick scoreless streak," 28 Aug. 2017
Perhaps there's still a bit of teenage witch magic left?

— bob carlton, AL.com, "Popular Alabama deli makes list of 'Best Sandwich Shop in Every State'," 22 Aug. 2017
The occasional crew member unloading equipment from a fleet of trucks parked outside Huntington Bank offered the only suggestion that there was movie magic happening inside.

— kimberly armstrong, Cincinnati.com, "'Reprisal' filming continued with Central Business District robbery; what to expect this week," 14 Aug. 2017
Two months after Herdman garnered conference player of the year honors for a 35-2-1 baseball team, the time has come to spread a little of that magic to football.

— blake baumgartner, Naperville Sun, "Noah Herdman, Neuqua Valley set sights on another playoff run," 5 Aug. 2017
And Logan has worked his magic on garlic rolls à la Miami’s Best.

— christina mayo, miamiherald, "Merrick’s Pizza owner was trained by the Best in Coral Gables," 3 Aug. 2017
And the magic doesn't end with the chairs — Ethan Allen's Disney collaboration offers grown-up Disney fans a whole range of homewares, from furniture to bedding.

— sarah schreiber, House Beautiful, "This Oversized Ethan Allen Chair Is for the Ultimate Disney Lover," 25 July 2017
A third, Jean de Paracol, in southern France, markets a service to help small businesses that have been blighted by black magic.

— The Economist, "Soul tradersDemand for exorcists is soaring in France," 20 July 2017
Soon magic was replaced almost entirely with modern technology.

— vanityfair.com, "Everything You Need to Know About Disney and Pixar’s Dazzling New Slate," 14 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of magic

Middle English magique, from Middle French, from Latin magice, from Greek magikē, feminine of magikos Magian, magical, from magos magus, sorcerer, of Iranian origin; akin to Old Persian maguš sorcerer

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

bewitchery, bewitchment, conjuring, devilry (or deviltry), diablerie, enchantment, ensorcellment, mojo, necromancy, sorcery, thaumaturgy, voodooism, witchcraft, witchery, wizardry

Antonyms

repulsion, repulsiveness

Related Words

abracadabra, amulet, charm, fetish (also fetich), mascot, periapt, phylactery, talisman; conjuration, glamour (also glamor), incantation, spell; curse, hex, jinx; augury, crystal gazing, divination, divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, fortune-telling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying, sortilege; hexerei, hoodoo, occultism, spiritualism; augur, omen; exorcism; alchemy

Near Antonyms

science

Other Occult Terms

augury, censor, invocation, lucidity, metempsychosis, mojo, numinous, preternatural, weird, wraith

magic

adjective

Definition of magic

1 :of or relating to magic

2 a :having seemingly supernatural qualities or powers

b :giving a feeling of enchantment

—

magical

play \ˈma-ji-kəl\ adjective

—

magically

play \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See magic defined for English-language learners

Examples of magic in a Sentence

a magic potion that makes you able to fly
There is no magic solution to these problems.

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

The trade that came down on Tuesday, then, feels like something from a Harry Houdini or David Blaine magic act.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "Koby Altman's Magic Act Lets LeBron Know There's Life After Kyrie," 23 Aug. 2017
This magic thing has reduced the recovery time of my cysts from >1 month to sometimes 2 weeks or less.

— chloe metzger, Marie Claire, "9 Tried-and-True Ways Real People Get Rid of Their Cystic Zits," 21 Aug. 2017
This 17th-century German Jesuit father, friend of the pope, Borromini, and Galileo, amassed an extraordinary collection of worldly souvenirs brought back to Italy by Jesuit missionaries: a stuffed armadillo, magic lanterns, Egyptian obelisks.

— sophy roberts, CNT, "Rent This 17th-Century Roman Palazzo Designed by Vatican Artists," 17 Aug. 2017
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword PG13 Young King Arthur becomes the king of Camelot after pulling a magic sword from the legendary stone.

— guy hanford, Ramona Sentinel, "'Dark Tower,' 'Dunkirk' remain box office leaders," 10 Aug. 2017
Equipped with an iPhone, a telescope and an adapter, Weasner and Symes have made magic happen.

— valeria merino, The Courier-Journal, "How to photograph the Great American Eclipse with your iPhone," 27 July 2017
Jasmine takes a nap while on a magic carpet ride through an endless nighttime sky.

— miranda siwak, Good Housekeeping, "Itty-Bitty Disney Princesses Are Brought to Life in Enchanting Photo Shoot," 25 July 2017
Ordered by President Trump to find some bill to repeal-and-replace—or at least repeal—Obamacare, a group of 20-some-odd Republican senators met last night for nearly three hours, and despite optimistic talk no magic new formula emerged.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Despite Trump’s Demands, No Miraculous Health-Care Breakthrough for GOP Senators," 20 July 2017
The Drifters Levitt Pavilion The Drifters 3 Hall of Fame rock royalty will make every moment a magic moment at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Levitt Pavilion.

— denise harris, star-telegram, "Hello, weekend! Ribs, retro music and the real science of beer," 19 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of magic

see ¹magic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

bewitched, charmed, entranced, enchanted, magical, spellbound

Related Words

cursed (also curst), jinxed, possessed; dreamy, fairy, fairylike; fantastic (also fantastical), miraculous, utopian, wondrous; hypnotized, mesmerized; bedazzled, captivated, fascinated

Near Antonyms

commonplace, everyday, normal, ordinary, prosaic, routine, run-of-the-mill, unexceptional, unremarkable, usual, workaday

magic

verb

Definition of magic

magicked; magicking

transitive verb

:to produce, remove, or influence by magic

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

As Stephen K. Ritter reports for Chemical & Engineering News, researchers at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany have isolated four enzymes that magic mushrooms use to make psilocybin.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Scientists Unlock Magic Mushrooms’ Mysterious Chemical Compound," 19 Aug. 2017
Brewers’ efforts to magic up a new daypart for beer come as sales of the beverage are falling, both in the U.S. and world-wide.

— lara o’reilly, WSJ, "CMO Today: WPP Suffers Hack; Brunch Beer; Verizon Pursues Carrier Data Tie-Ups," 28 June 2017

First Known Use of magic

1906

MAGIC Defined for English Language Learners

magic

play

noun

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

: a power that allows people (such as witches and wizards) to do impossible things by saying special words or performing special actions
: tricks that seem to be impossible and that are done by a performer to entertain people
: special power, influence, or skill

magic

adjective

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

: having the power to make impossible things happen : having supernatural power
: involving the skill of doing tricks that seem to be impossible
: capable of producing good results very easily

MAGIC Defined for Kids

magic

play

noun mag·ic \ ˈma-jik \

Definition of magic for Students

1 :the power to control natural forces possessed by certain persons (as wizards and witches) in folk tales and fiction

2 :the art or skill of performing tricks or illusions for entertainment

3 :a power that seems mysterious

The team lost its magic.

4 :something that charms

They calmed us with the magic of their singing.

magic

adjective

Definition of magic for Students

1 :having or seeming to have the power to make impossible things happen

She chanted the magic words.

2 :of or relating to the power to make impossible things happen

magic tricks

3 :giving a feeling of enchantment

It was a magic moment.

Learn More about magic

See words that rhyme with magic Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for magic Spanish Central: Translation of magic Nglish: Translation of magic for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of magic for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magic

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Other Occult Terms

magic

Definition of magic

magical

magically

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Origin and Etymology of magic

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

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magic

Definition of magic

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MAGIC Defined for English Language Learners

magic

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

magic

Definition of magic for English Language Learners

MAGIC Defined for Kids

magic

Definition of magic for Students

magic

Definition of magic for Students

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