ethereal

adjective

ethe·​re·​al i-ˈthir-ē-əl How to pronounce ethereal (audio)
1
a
: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth
2
a
: lacking material substance : immaterial, intangible
b
: marked by unusual delicacy or refinement
this smallest, most ethereal, and daintiest of birdsWilliam Beebe
c
: suggesting the heavens or heaven
3
: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether
ethereality noun
etherealization noun
etherealize transitive verb
ethereally adverb
etherealness noun

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

The windows give the church an ethereal glow. that ethereal attribute that every performer should have—charisma
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Think: dramatic lighting, wall projections, ethereal backdrops and more. 65. Maggie Griswold, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025 The Grammy winner wore a sheer black dress by Donna Karan New York and carried a vintage Fendi baguette bag. 07 of 07 Suki Waterhouse Suki Waterhouse attended the 2025 Billboard Women in Music awards in an ethereal Valentino gown featuring a floral skirt and sheer pink bodice. Catherine Santino, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Frank and vulnerable, her restrained vocal performance is the perfect pairing for Sundae Beats’ lush, ethereal soundscape. Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2025 Hardly your average bridal silhouette to begin with — its midi length keeps things from being formal, to be sure— this strapless, fit-and-flare gown is styled with delicate floral embroidery and the ethereal detailing is the icing on the proverbial wedding cake. Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethereal

Word History

First Known Use

1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethereal was in 1522

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Ethereal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethereal. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

ethereal

adjective
ethe·​re·​al i-ˈthir-ē-əl How to pronounce ethereal (audio)
1
: of or relating to the heavens : heavenly
2
: being light and airy : delicate
ethereally adverb
etherealness noun

Medical Definition

ethereal

adjective
ethe·​re·​al i-ˈthir-ē-əl How to pronounce ethereal (audio)
: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether

More from Merriam-Webster on ethereal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!