marvel

noun mar·vel \ ˈmär-vəl \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Examples: marvel in a Sentence

Definition of marvel

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

See marvel defined for English-language learners

See marvel defined for kids

Examples of marvel in a Sentence

that new electric car really is a marvel

Recent Examples of marvel from the Web

They were also treated like show ponies by the media, and at the start of Three Identical Strangers we are invited to perceive them that way—as a lovely, happy marvel.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Three Identical Men and a Mystery," 5 July 2018
Enjoy the marvels of a living beehive provided by beekeeper David Pease, who will be on hand to answer questions on beekeeping and offer samples of local raw honey.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Vernon Edition," 2 July 2018
The artist who presided at the show instead is the pre-boom Basquiat, the marvel of a crumbling yet vibrantly creative New York City.

— stephen metcalf, The Atlantic, "Jean-Michel Basquiat Is Still an Enigma," 24 June 2018
Swipe through the photos above and feast your eyes on this architectural marvel.

— fernando alfonso iii, Houston Chronicle, "Resort-like Houston-area house with nearly 12,000 square feet hits the market," 18 June 2018
Kneale depicts the city as its various attackers encountered it: Gauls, arriving naked on horseback, found a nearly rural settlement; the Visigoths, invading eight centuries later, laid waste to unimaginable architectural marvels.

— george packer, The New Yorker, "Briefly Noted," 16 June 2018
My impression of the pool as a technological marvel, however, was decidedly underwhelming at first glance.

— alex wilson, Outside Online, "Kelly Slater's Wave Pool Is the Future. And It's Bleak.," 7 May 2018
The spectacular columns of Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland look like an architectural marvel, but the formation is entirely natural.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "How Giant’s Causeway Formed Its Spectacular Array of Columns," 17 Apr. 2018
Five days before the collapse, university and government officials touted the bridge as an architectural marvel that would connect the university to the nearby city of Sweetwater in the greater Miami area.

— Washington Post, "Family seeks justice for youngest bridge collapse victim," 3 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of marvel

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year