gorgeous

adjective

gor·​geous ˈgȯr-jəs 

: splendidly or showily brilliant or magnificent

gorgeously adverb

gorgeousness noun

Did you know?

In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning “throat,” was the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. A beautiful headdress was so much the mark of a fashionable lady that Gorgias then became an adjective meaning “elegant” or “fond of dress.” Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of “beautiful” that it has today.

Synonyms

• aesthetic
• esthetic
• aesthetical
• esthetical
• attractive
• beauteous
• beautiful
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• comely
• cute
• drop-dead
• fair
• fetching
• good
• good-looking
• goodly
• handsome
• knockout
• likely
• lovely
• lovesome
• pretty
• ravishing
• seemly
• sightly
• stunning
• taking
• well-favored

Choose the Right Synonym for gorgeous

splendid, resplendent, gorgeous, glorious, sublime, superb mean extraordinarily or transcendently impressive.

splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.

the wedding was a splendid occasion

resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.

resplendent in her jewelry

gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.

a gorgeous red dress

glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.

a glorious sunset

sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.

a vision of sublime beauty

superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.

her singing was superb

Examples of gorgeous in a Sentence

The difference in appearance can be dramatic, as I saw on a visit to the small, modern factory where Pineider prints its stationery, in a gorgeous part of Tuscany near Florence and bordering Chianti. —Corby Kummer, Atlantic, May 2001

In the Arlberg … my wife and I were taken to the most perfect dinner by an elderly Viennese couple and their gorgeous young daughter, whom we had met in Washington. —Geoffrey Wolff, Granta, Autumn 1990

Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. —L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900

Your baby is absolutely gorgeous!

sunsets in Hawaii are just gorgeous

Recent Examples on the Web

Opening in the same year was the elegant Interlaken Hotel, on the shores of Twin Lakes, a gorgeous but ultimately doomed retreat for well-off visitors. —James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2024

Xbox fans should definitely look into getting the gorgeous Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma. —Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024

In another curious assemblage, a man dressed to the nines contemplates the gorgeous beauty of a Laura Wheeler Waring portrait. —Essence, 5 Nov. 2024

Available in four gorgeous shades, there’s a hue for every taste. —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gorgeouse, from Middle French gorgias elegant, perhaps from gorgias wimple, from gorge throat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gorgeous

adjective

gor·​geous ˈgȯr-jəs 

: having an impressive beauty

a gorgeous sunset

gorgeously adverb

gorgeousness noun

Etymology

Middle English gorgeouse "very showy, splendid," from early French gorgias "elegant," from gorgias "headdress, wimple," from gorge "part of the wimple covering the throat, throat"

Word Origin

In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning "throat," was then the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. Perhaps because a beautiful headdress was the mark of a fashionable lady, gorgias seems to have become an adjective meaning "elegant" or "fond of dress." Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of "beautiful" which it has today.