marvelous

adjective

mar·​vel·​ous ˈmärv-(ə-)ləs 

variants or chiefly British marvellous

1

: causing wonder : astonishing

the marvelous directional sense of migrating birds

2

: miraculous, supernatural

Gothic tales of marvelous and bizarre happenings

3

: of the highest kind or quality : notably superior

has a marvelous way with children

marvelously adverb

or chiefly British marvellously

marvelously inventive

sang marvelously

marvelousness noun

or chiefly British marvellousness

Synonyms

• wonderful
• amazing
• astonishing
• sublime
• stunning
• awesome

Examples of marvelous in a Sentence

We had a marvelous time at the party.

He has a marvelous way with children.

The weather was simply marvelous.

Recent Examples on the Web

The kernel of the script imagined Ruth’s movements through her longtime home for the final time—a marvelous, minutely observed sequence that opens the film—and then her new home for the first time. —Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 20 June 2025

Chuck invites a woman from the crowd to join him — Janice Halliday (Annalise Basso), whom the narrator has just informed us has undergone a bad breakup via text message — and their marvelous dance sequence offers a startling contrast to the grim despair of the film’s first (third?) act. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025

But what marvelous results: Thirty unbroken miles of lakefront open to the public; wide boulevards and spectacular parks, and more. —Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

Condon is marvelous as the tough techie who, naturally, falls for Sonny, because the dude is Brad Pitt. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 17 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English merveillous, borrowed from Anglo-French, from merveille marvel entry 1 + -ous -ous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for marvelous

• marvellous

Kids Definition

marvelous

adjective

mar·​vel·​ous

variants or marvellous

ˈmärv-(ə-)ləs 

1

: causing wonder or astonishment

2

: having the characteristics of a miracle

3

: of the highest kind or quality : splendid

we had a marvelous time

marvelously adverb

marvelousness noun