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Meaning & use

fabulous

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈfæb.jə.ləs/
US/ˈfæb.jə.ləs/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparableinformal

    Wonderful in a way that thrills or delights you; extremely good or impressive.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a fabulous view; the view was fabulous.

    Patterns

    • a fabulous something
    • look fabulous
    • feel fabulous

    We had a fabulous time at your wedding.

    You look fabulous in that green coat.

    The chef cooked a fabulous meal from almost nothing.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounliterary

    Belonging to legend or fable rather than real life, or so extraordinary that it is hard to believe.

    Grammar: Usually comes before a noun: fabulous beasts, not 'the beast is fabulous' in this sense.

    Patterns

    • fabulous creatures
    • fabulous wealth

    Dragons and unicorns are fabulous beasts found in old tales.

    The sultan was said to own fabulous riches hidden in a mountain.

    Travelers brought home fabulous stories of cities made of gold.

Word forms

comparativemore fabulous
superlativemost fabulous

Common combinations

look fabulous
She looked fabulous after weeks of rest.
a fabulous time
The children had a fabulous time at the zoo.
fabulous news
I have fabulous news: we got the house.
absolutely fabulous
The concert was absolutely fabulous.
fabulous wealth
The family lived on fabulous wealth built over generations.

Synonyms and how they differ

wonderful
Wonderful is a warm everyday word, while fabulous sounds more excited and a little glamorous.
fantastic
Fantastic is equally enthusiastic but can also mean fanciful, whereas fabulous suggests glamour or delight.
superb
Superb stresses high quality and skill, while fabulous focuses on the pleasure it gives.
mythical
Mythical fits only the legend sense of fabulous and never means 'great'.

Opposites

dreadfulordinary

Word family

fabulously adverb
to an extreme or impressive degree, as in fabulously rich
fable noun
a short story with a moral, often with animals
fabulist noun
a person who writes fables or tells invented stories
fabulousness noun
the quality of being fabulous

Commonly confused: fabulous or fabled?

fabulous vs fabled

Fabled means famous in legend, as in the fabled lost city. Fabulous more often just means excellent.

Practice

Which sentence uses 'fabulous' in its older, legendary sense?

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