marvelous

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Extremely good, impressive, or wonderful.

   Grammar: Gradable adjective: can be used with 'very', 'really', 'absolutely', and has comparative 'more marvelous' and superlative 'most marvelous'.

   Patterns

   • marvelous to do something
   • It is marvelous that ...
   • a marvelous time

   We had a marvelous time at the beach last weekend.

   The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely marvelous.

   She did a marvelous job organizing the whole event.

2. 2adjectivecomparableliterary

   Causing great wonder or astonishment; extraordinary.

   Grammar: Used especially before a noun to describe something that amazes you.

   Patterns

   • a marvelous sight
   • a marvelous achievement

   The Grand Canyon is a marvelous natural wonder.

   It was a marvelous coincidence that we met there.

Word forms

Common combinations

absolutely marvelous

The weather was absolutely marvelous for the picnic.

marvelous time

The kids had a marvelous time at the zoo.

marvelous idea

What a marvelous idea to surprise her!

marvelous job

You did a marvelous job on the presentation.

Synonyms and how they differ

wonderful

Very similar in meaning and tone; 'wonderful' is slightly more common in everyday speech.

fantastic

More informal and often used for things you are excited about.

excellent

Focuses on high quality rather than the feeling of wonder.

remarkable

Suggests something unusual or worth noticing, not just very good.

Opposites

Word family

marvel noun

A wonderful or astonishing thing.

marvelously adverb

In a marvelous way; extremely well.

Commonly confused: marvelous or marvellous?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “marvelous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words