marvel

1 of 2

noun

mar·​vel ˈmär-vəl 

1

: one that causes wonder or astonishment

her talent is a marvel to behold

… with that marvel of architecture before our eyes …

—Martha Kean

2

: intense surprise or interest : astonishment

… his voice filled with marvel …

—Mordecai Richler

marvel

2 of 2

verb

marveled or marvelled; marveling or marvelling ˈmärv-liŋ 

ˈmär-və-

intransitive verb

: to become filled with surprise, wonder, or amazed curiosity

marveled at the magician's skill

transitive verb

: to feel astonishment or perplexity at or about

marveled that they had escaped

Synonyms of marvel

Noun

• miracle
• wonder
• phenomenon

Examples of marvel in a Sentence

Noun

that new electric car really is a marvel

Verb

The doctors marveled that anyone could recover so quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Everyone gets mail, and the marvel of the postal system’s reach and distribution was intentionally used as an anthrax dissemination machine. — Daniel Jernigan, STAT, 26 Sep. 2026

Few people realize it these days, but both the rifle and round were technical marvels. — John B. Snow, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026

Verb

Guests including Camille Cottin, Cynthia Erivo and Greta Lee stopped to marvel at a display with photographs and personal papers from Schlumberger, an otherwise private and discrete figure who was part of Paris’ Café Society. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026

Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady, marveled at how much Christine Taylor‘s Marcia resembled Maureen McCormick. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English merveile, mervayle "something causing astonishment, miracle," borrowed from Anglo-French merveille, going back to Gallo-Romance *merevelia, altered from Latin mīrābilia, noun derivative from neuter plural of mīrābilis "causing wonder, remarkable," from mīrārī "to be surprised, look with wonder at" + -bilis "capable of (acting or being acted upon)" — more at admire, -able

Verb

Middle English merveilen, mervaylen, borrowed from Anglo-French merveiller, derivative of merveille marvel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for marvel

• larval

Kids Definition

marvel

1 of 2 noun

mar·​vel ˈmär-vəl 

: one that causes wonder or astonishment

marvel

2 of 2 verb

marveled or marvelled; marveling or marvelling ˈmärv-(ə-)liŋ 

: to become filled with surprise or astonishment

marveled at the magician's skill