ethereal
adjective
William Beebe
Did you know?
If you're burning to know the history of ethereal, you're in the right spirit to fully understand the word's etymology. The ancient Greeks believed that the Earth was composed of earth, air, fire, and water, but that the heavens and its denizens were made of a purer, less tangible substance known (in English transliteration) as either quintessence or ether. Ether was often described as an invisible light or fire; its name comes from the Greek verb aithein, meaning "to ignite" or "to blaze." When ethereal, the adjectival kin of ether, debuted in English in the 1500s, it described regions beyond the Earth or anything that seemed to originate from them.
Examples of ethereal in a Sentence
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
Trefethen 2021 Cabernet Franc has ethereal aromas of spice, cherry, cigar box, raspberry, black pepper, and plum, followed by flavors of cassis, jalapeño, blackberry, and tobacco leaf.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
The collection blends ethereal elements with sharp tailoring and athletic details, reflecting the house’s signature balance of fantasy and function.
—Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
As Bella and Edward become closer, our young heroine not only romanticizes the vampire's ethereal good looks, but also the dominance and constant surveillance of his courtship.
—USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethereal
Cite this Entry
“Ethereal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethereal. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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ethereal
adjective
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ethereal
adjective
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