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 concert was a marvelous blend of contemporary jazz and world music compositions, orchestrated traditional Hebrew and Lebanese inspired songs sung in Cohen’s hauntingly beautiful voice, as well as classical works. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025

Tim Burton’s two marvelous Batman movies took the character’s morose nature seriously, but not more seriously than his savoir faire: the Burton Batman movies also have gothic elegance on their side. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 11 July 2025

Best Amazon Prime Day Garden and Outdoor Deals Over in the garden and outdoor category, there are marvelous markdowns on gardening tools, patio furniture, grills, outdoor storage boxes, and even fire pits. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2025

What a marvelous thing to have happened in our lives. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 9 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