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 of marvelous

• wonderful
• amazing
• astonishing
• miraculous
• surprising
• incredible
• stunning
• sublime

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 marvelous child actor Alfie Williams returns as 12-year-old Spike, who, in the earlier film, survived a zombie-hunting trip with his father, only to chafe at his father’s lack of feeling for his exceedingly ill wife, Spike’s mother. —Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 14 Jan. 2026

None was more obvious than this past weekend, against the Los Angeles Rams, when Young went blow-for-blow with MVP candidate Matthew Stafford and fell one drive short of completing a marvelous comeback. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026

Oscar’s wife, Birdie (a marvelous Margery Lowe), seems to be the opposite of Regina. —Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026

Faber learning much from Hughes Faber and Quinn Hughes had another marvelous night. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026

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