marvel

1 of 2

noun

mar·​vel ˈmär-vəl 

1

: one that causes wonder or astonishment

her talent is a marvel to behold

… with that marvel of architecture before our eyes …

—Martha Kean

2

: intense surprise or interest : astonishment

… his voice filled with marvel …

—Mordecai Richler

marvel

2 of 2

verb

marveled or marvelled; marveling or marvelling ˈmärv-liŋ 

ˈmär-və-

intransitive verb

: to become filled with surprise, wonder, or amazed curiosity

marveled at the magician's skill

transitive verb

: to feel astonishment or perplexity at or about

marveled that they had escaped

Synonyms

Noun

• caution
• flash
• miracle
• phenomenon
• portent
• prodigy
• sensation
• splendor
• wonder

Examples of marvel in a Sentence

Noun

that new electric car really is a marvel

Verb

The doctors marveled that anyone could recover so quickly.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Godzilla Minus One, which had a budget of just $15 million, was considered a marvel of bang-for-buck VFX. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024

From natural temperature-regulating fabrics like Merino wool to synthetic options engineered to wick moisture, today’s base layers are marvels of technology. —Samantha Berman, Outside Online, 29 Oct. 2024

Verb

But now, due to the ongoing regional drought, the bridge and parts of the surrounding town have resurfaced, attracting visitors from near and far to marvel at the rare sight. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

An older reader might like a beat to marvel at all the unnatural wonders, but there are mythic critters to be saved and the plot flies along, trying to keep up with Mal. —Yvonne Zipp, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English merveile, mervayle "something causing astonishment, miracle," borrowed from Anglo-French merveille, going back to Gallo-Romance *merevelia, altered from Latin mīrābilia, noun derivative from neuter plural of mīrābilis "causing wonder, remarkable," from mīrārī "to be surprised, look with wonder at" + -bilis "capable of (acting or being acted upon)" — more at admire, -able

Verb

Middle English merveilen, mervaylen, borrowed from Anglo-French merveiller, derivative of merveille marvel entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

marvel

1 of 2 noun

mar·​vel ˈmär-vəl 

: one that causes wonder or astonishment

marvel

2 of 2 verb

marveled or marvelled; marveling or marvelling ˈmärv-(ə-)liŋ 

: to become filled with surprise or astonishment

marveled at the magician's skill