¹marvel

noun mar·vel \ˈmär-vəl\

: someone or something that is extremely good, skillful, etc. : a wonderful or marvelous person or thing

Full Definition of MARVEL

: one that causes wonder or astonishment <her talent is a marvel to behold>

: intense surprise or interest : astonishment

See marvel defined for English-language learners

See marvel defined for kids

Origin of MARVEL

Middle English mervel, from Anglo-French merveille, from Late Latin mirabilia marvels, from Latin, neuter plural of mirabilis wonderful, from mirari to wonder

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to MARVEL

Synonyms: caution, flash, wonder, miracle, phenomenon, portent, prodigy, sensation, splendor

Rhymes with MARVEL

larval

²marvel

verb

: to feel great surprise, wonder, or admiration

mar·veled or mar·velledmar·vel·ing or mar·vel·ling \ˈmärv-liŋ, ˈmär-və-\

Full Definition of MARVEL

intransitive verb

: to become filled with surprise, wonder, or amazed curiosity <marveled at the magician's skill>

transitive verb

: to feel astonishment or perplexity at or about <marveled that they had escaped>

See marvel defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of MARVEL

14th century

MARVEL Defined for Kids

¹marvel

noun mar·vel \ˈmär-vəl\

Definition of MARVEL for Kids

: something that causes wonder or astonishment

²marvel

verb

mar·veled or mar·velledmar·vel·ing or mar·vel·ling

Definition of MARVEL for Kids

: to feel astonishment or wonder <I had never seen such beautiful illustrations … I turned the pages, marveling. — Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted>