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

This marvelous oven has an eight-in-one function with multiple cooking modes to slow cook, braise, bake, and make brown rice, white rice, pasta, and oats. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 5 Aug. 2025

Sandra Oh’s Cristina Yang, Katherine Heigl’s Izzie Stevens, Patrick Dempsey’s Derek Shepherd, T.R. Knight’s George O’Malley, Justin Chambers’ Alex Karev and marvelous Chandra Wilson’s Miranda Bailey. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Aug. 2025

Google Gemini is a marvelous assistant that can do all manner of things for you, from summarizing emails to controlling smart appliances. —Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025

Hundreds submit marvelous cakes, crafts, quilts and other creations in competitions in both states. —Kathy Berdan, Twin Cities, 27 July 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