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a
: the use of means (such as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces
b
: magic rites or incantations
Synonyms
Example Sentences
Noun
children who believe in magic
a book that explains how to do magic
Both pitchers, though they are older, haven't lost their magic.
Adjective
a magic potion that makes you able to fly
There is no magic solution to these problems.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, 30 Jan. 2023
And inside the bag is where the organizational magic happens, with multiple slip pockets, including ones for water bottles and laptops, zip pockets, and a key clip.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2023
An Isis Knot called on Isis, the power of the goddess of healing and magic, to protect the body.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Jan. 2023
Youngkin’s magic also failed to rub off on candidates in Virginia.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023
In his tale, ILLENIUM escapes dystopia to find love’s magic and sparks in the forest, but the pull of old habits and systems weighs heavy alongside his family’s tragedy.
—Riley Van Steward, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
These Bengals are playing with the same magic that last year’s Bengals had.
—Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2023
In other words, not only is every season different, but there is no guarantee that the magic that sometimes links itself to one team for a season will return the next.
—Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 21 Jan. 2023
Hardware is only one part of the magic required to get a robot like MARLO to walk reliably.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2023
Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
The rough sleepers’ devious ways were more amusing and miraculous left unknown, like the mechanics of a magic trick.
—Tracy Kidder, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023
This magic trick gives you a longer-lasting scent with the same amount of sprays!
—Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022
Everybody remembers the diner scene, but the bank heist sequence feels like a magic trick even more today.
—Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 28 Nov. 2022
Criminal’s Nadia Wilson, who produced the two-parter, likens the appeal of these kinds of stories to a magic trick.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2022
These teachings can be work-related or fun and playful like a magic trick, a favorite recipe or how to make an origami crane.
—Robin Elledge, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022
The aforementioned 23-yard throw to Stewart was something of a magic trick at Arnold’s expense.
—Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 9 Oct. 2022
The lights, the stage designs, the music — it all blends together into a kind of magic trick.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 11 Sep. 2022
Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2023
Vega connects that magic to the trappings of digital culture, which has led to, among other things, El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as national currency, despite many of its citizens not owning smartphones.
—Dallas News, 14 Dec. 2022
Naturally, then, speculation about the film’s reshoots has led to rumors that a few Lokis might magic their way into Doctor Strange and Wanda’s orbit.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 May 2022
Still, Richardson Jackson clearly knows how to direct actors and pulls magic out of her cast, creating a production worthy of August Wilson's legacy.
—Dave Quinn, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2022
Buckley had a vast tonal range from which to choose in his musical palette, from deep trauma to horror to otherworldly magic.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 14 July 2022
The auction house, through glossy catalogs and (increasingly) online offerings, can magic up artistic legitimacy that once only museums or scholars could assign.
—New York Times, 23 May 2022
The book opens the door to magic and brings readers inside its world by revealing the artistry, inside history, and fascinating traditions of a subject long shrouded in mystery.
—cleveland, 18 Mar. 2022
Like most restaurants, high-end sushi counters survived the earliest part of the pandemic by cutting all that magic away and focusing on takeout.
—New York Times, 4 Jan. 2022
See More
Noun
So go ahead and prepare one of your favorite green cocktails (or two), and set off on a journey to spread some Irish luck and magic with these wise, funny, and meaningful phrases.
—Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, 30 Jan. 2023
And inside the bag is where the organizational magic happens, with multiple slip pockets, including ones for water bottles and laptops, zip pockets, and a key clip.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 25 Jan. 2023
An Isis Knot called on Isis, the power of the goddess of healing and magic, to protect the body.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Jan. 2023
Youngkin’s magic also failed to rub off on candidates in Virginia.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 24 Jan. 2023
In his tale, ILLENIUM escapes dystopia to find love’s magic and sparks in the forest, but the pull of old habits and systems weighs heavy alongside his family’s tragedy.
—Riley Van Steward, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023
These Bengals are playing with the same magic that last year’s Bengals had.
—Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2023
In other words, not only is every season different, but there is no guarantee that the magic that sometimes links itself to one team for a season will return the next.
—Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 21 Jan. 2023
Hardware is only one part of the magic required to get a robot like MARLO to walk reliably.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2023
Adjective
Ultimately, there’s no magic trick to get the nation out of this mess, experts said.
—Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
The rough sleepers’ devious ways were more amusing and miraculous left unknown, like the mechanics of a magic trick.
—Tracy Kidder, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2023
This magic trick gives you a longer-lasting scent with the same amount of sprays!
—Dallas News, 30 Nov. 2022
Everybody remembers the diner scene, but the bank heist sequence feels like a magic trick even more today.
—Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 28 Nov. 2022
Criminal’s Nadia Wilson, who produced the two-parter, likens the appeal of these kinds of stories to a magic trick.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2022
These teachings can be work-related or fun and playful like a magic trick, a favorite recipe or how to make an origami crane.
—Robin Elledge, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022
The aforementioned 23-yard throw to Stewart was something of a magic trick at Arnold’s expense.
—Michael Casagrande | Mcasagrande@al.com, al, 9 Oct. 2022
The lights, the stage designs, the music — it all blends together into a kind of magic trick.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 11 Sep. 2022
Verb
And there’s hardly a deer hunter alive who doesn’t dream of taking a buck that eclipses that magic 200 number.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 9 Jan. 2023
Vega connects that magic to the trappings of digital culture, which has led to, among other things, El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as national currency, despite many of its citizens not owning smartphones.
—Dallas News, 14 Dec. 2022
Naturally, then, speculation about the film’s reshoots has led to rumors that a few Lokis might magic their way into Doctor Strange and Wanda’s orbit.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 5 May 2022
Still, Richardson Jackson clearly knows how to direct actors and pulls magic out of her cast, creating a production worthy of August Wilson's legacy.
—Dave Quinn, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2022
Buckley had a vast tonal range from which to choose in his musical palette, from deep trauma to horror to otherworldly magic.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 14 July 2022
The auction house, through glossy catalogs and (increasingly) online offerings, can magic up artistic legitimacy that once only museums or scholars could assign.
—New York Times, 23 May 2022
The book opens the door to magic and brings readers inside its world by revealing the artistry, inside history, and fascinating traditions of a subject long shrouded in mystery.
—cleveland, 18 Mar. 2022
Like most restaurants, high-end sushi counters survived the earliest part of the pandemic by cutting all that magic away and focusing on takeout.
—New York Times, 4 Jan. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Adjective
Middle English magique, from Middle French, from Latin magice, from Greek magikē, feminine of magikos Magian, magical, from magos magus, sorcerer, of Iranian origin; akin to Old Persian maguš sorcerer
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1906, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of magic was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing magic
Dictionary Entries Near magic
Cite this Entry
“Magic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magic. Accessed 7 Feb. 2023.
More from Merriam-Webster on magic
Nglish: Translation of magic for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of magic for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magic
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