Meaning & use
marveled or marvelled
Last updated
UK/ˈmɑːvəld/
US/ˈmɑːrvəld/
Meaning
verbtransitive or intransitive
Past tense and past participle of 'marvel': felt great surprise and wonder at something.
Grammar: Usually used with 'at' or a 'that' clause; no object with 'at'.
Patterns
- marveled at something
- marveled that + clause
She marveled at the beauty of the night sky.
We marveled that no one had been hurt in the crash.
He marvelled at how quickly the children learned the song.
Common combinations
- marveled at the sight
- The tourists marveled at the sight of the ancient temple.
- marveled that
- I marveled that she could stay so calm.
- marveled at how
- They marveled at how well the old machine still worked.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wondered
- Often suggests curiosity rather than strong admiration; 'marveled' is stronger and more literary.
- admired
- Focuses on respect for a quality, while 'marveled' focuses on surprise and wonder.
Word family
Commonly confused: marveled or marvelled or marble?
marveled or marvelled vs marble
A hard stone or a small glass ball; different meaning and spelling.
Practice
Which sentence uses the correct American spelling?
Choose one answer.
'Marveled' is the American spelling with one 'l'. 'Marvelled' is British, and the other forms are misspellings.
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