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

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

The result of Waymo’s efforts is a robotaxi service that is a technological marvel, but one that requires human labor to expand it to new locations and maintain operations. —Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Oct. 2025

Founded in 1962, the museum highlights 200 years of canal history through interactive exhibits, original artifacts, and engaging programs that explore how this engineering marvel shaped New York’s communities and culture, past and present. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025

Verb

Coming off of a Game 4 performance in the NLCS which still has baseball fans marveling, Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani connected on a two-run home run in the next half inning to cut into the Jays’ big lead. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025

After marveling at the park’s mud pots and hot springs, visitors to nearby Drakesbad Guest Ranch can be the direct beneficiaries of that volcanic activity as well, with therapeutic soaks in Drake’s Bath available seasonally, plus massages offered by reservation. —AFAR Media, 24 Oct. 2025

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