magic

noun mag·ic \ ˈma-jik \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

People from all over come here to stake their claim on the magic, and along with that comes a lot of people who fall between the cracks and need a helping hand, a lot of homeless people who didn’t choose that lot in life.

— lindsay weinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "Jack Black Hosts My Friend’s Place Gala Honoring Miley Cyrus," 9 Apr. 2018
Poured over all of this is an endless river of movie magic, including lavish crowd scenes that almost burst into song and dance, and vast sets that re-create old New York institutions with heartbreaking detail, from B. Altman’s to the Gaslight.

— caitlin flanagan, The Atlantic, "The Impossible Duality of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," 9 Apr. 2018
Old Manu’s magic: Ginobili’s 17-point performance against the Trail Blazers matched Michael Jordan for the fifth-most double digit scoring games past age 40 in NBA history (29).

— jeff mcdonald, San Antonio Express-News, "Gay relishes chance at playoffs," 8 Apr. 2018
What’s more, this family kept finding ways to hoard more and more magic, only increasing the inequality of the show’s most elastic metaphor.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "FX’s Legion, Syfy’s The Magicians, and the reign of BIG MOMENT TV," 8 Apr. 2018
There has been no Tiger magic, few fist pumps, only muted roars.

— steve dimeglio, USA TODAY, "Tiger Woods expected more of himself this Masters, but the magic isn't there," 7 Apr. 2018
One looks back at the Renaissance for some of the history that inspired some of the magic, setting and history in the Harry Potter books and movies.

— erin blakemore, Washington Post, "The real history behind Harry Potter magic and WWI poison gas treatments," 7 Apr. 2018
That’s the magic, when the music and the lyric fit.

— justin barrasso, SI.com, "The ’Mania Supercolumn: 34 Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes for WrestleMania 34," 6 Apr. 2018
The magic of a group activity — and a hungry belly.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Grocery stores aren't just for supplies anymore," 5 Apr. 2018

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

Other Occult Terms

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

magic

adjective

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 magic number for the Oilers to extend their 13-game winning streak was three, as in getting the final three outs.

— david carrillo peñaloza, latimes.com, "South Hills rallies for three runs in seventh to upset defending Boras Classic champion Huntington Beach," 3 Apr. 2018
The Heat enter the day with a magic number of one to advance to the postseason, making it either with a victory of their own or a loss the Detroit Pistons, who are idle Tuesday.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Heat can clinch playoffs, winning record with win over Hawks tonight," 3 Apr. 2018
Chong: Our life stories are a testament to the magic herb.

— brad branan, sacbee, "What makes a 40-year-old marijuana movie relevant? Cheech and Chong have an answer. | The Sacramento Bee," 1 Apr. 2018
In the play, Cohn gets a magic supply of AZT, a successful retroviral drug, because of his connections with the government.

— alex abad-santos, Vox, "What it’s like to watch Angels in America in an age of making America great again," 30 Mar. 2018
Some may have been misled by glowing media reports, believing AI to be a magic wand that can be installed as easily as a piece of Microsoft software, says Gautam Schroff of Tata Consultancy Services, an Indian firm.

— The Economist, "Non-tech businesses are beginning to use artificial intelligence at scale," 28 Mar. 2018
Kim basically rubbed a magic lamp and *magically* transformed into Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, eyebrows and all.

— kelsey stiegman, Seventeen, "Kim Kardashian Transforms Into Princess Jasmine and Looks So Stunning," 27 Mar. 2018
In 1942, Thayer and his wife exchanged homes with Bill and Gennie Larsen, founders of magic magazine Genii, with the Thayers moving to the Larsens’ house in Pasadena.

— juliet bennett rylah, Los Angeles Magazine, "A Long-Dead L.A. Magician Is Bringing Angelenos Together to Solve a Puzzle," 21 Mar. 2018
The cheapest fares—that magic $197!—will be highlighted in green.

— meredith carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "Flight Deal: West Coast to Hawaii from $197 Round-Trip," 20 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of magic

see ¹magic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

magical, mystic, occult, weird;

Near Antonyms

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

Related Words

bewitched, enchanted, spellbound;

bewitching, charming, conjuring, enchanting, wiling;

amazing, astonishing, astounding, awesome, extraordinary, fabulous, marvelous (or marvellous), miraculous, portentous, stunning, stupendous, sublime, wondrous;

divining, forecasting, foreknowing, foreseeing, foretelling, predicting, presaging, prognosticating, prophesying, soothsaying;

metaphysical, preternatural, unearthly;

magic

verb

magicked; magicking

transitive verb

: to produce, remove, or influence by magic

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

It’s hard to see how wanting to magic away their beliefs is compatible with an expansive vision of tolerance that would bring ideological balance to secular universities.

— alan levinovitz, Slate Magazine, "Today’s political climate doesn’t require more tolerance. It requires less.," 20 Mar. 2017
On Halloween, Williams Sonoma released the collection for Muggles who manage to magic in the kitchen.

— melissa minton, Teen Vogue, ""Harry Potter" Collection Debuts at Williams Sonoma," 1 Nov. 2017
Slick, smooth-talking Captain Greedy can juggle, balance and do magic tricks — all calculated to impress as well as distract.

— daryl h. miller, latimes.com, "Capitalism as a sideshow fleece: That's 'Captain Greedy's Carnival' by the Actors' Gang," 13 Oct. 2017
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

noun

: 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

: 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

noun mag·ic \ ˈma-jik \

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

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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magic

Examples of magic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of magic

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Other Occult Terms

magic

magical

magically

Examples of magic in a Sentence

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

Origin and Etymology of magic

magic Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

magic

Recent Examples of magic from the Web

First Known Use of magic

Phrases Related to MAGIC

Related Phrases

MAGIC Defined for English Language Learners

magic

magic

MAGIC Defined for Kids

magic

magic

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