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

These are just a few of the faces that show up in 1996’s marvelous second LP by Belle and Sebastian. —Elizabeth Nelson, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026

And of course, the American films are marvelous this year. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2026

The views in all directions, of thick forest, shadowy hillside, and sheer rocky coastline, are marvelous. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026

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

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