Marvelous: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：extremely impressive (marvelous)

marvelous 🔊

/ˈmɑːvələs/

adj.

Used to describe something that is extremely good and gives great pleasure, often in a way that is surprising or exciting.

Marvelous scene of a person amazed at a concert, illustrating extreme joy and admiration.

extremely impressive 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈstriːmli ɪmˈpresɪv/

adj.

It describes something that causes great wonder, admiration, or pleasure due to its exceptional quality.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'mirabilis' (wonderful, astonishing), through Old French 'merveillus'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a MARVEL comic book superhero doing something VELOcity-fast and USually amazing. That's MARVELOUS!

📖 Example

The symphony orchestra's performance last night was absolutely marvelous; the music lifted everyone's spirits. 🔊 Last night's performance by the symphony orchestra was truly spectacular and filled everyone with joy.

🔗 Collocations

marvelous performance – an exceptionally good show or act

marvelous view – a stunningly beautiful landscape or scene

marvelous achievement – a highly commendable and impressive accomplishment

🔄 Synonyms

wonderful (adj.) – Very good; inspiring delight or admiration.

fantastic (adj.) – Extraordinarily good or attractive.

superb (adj.) – Excellent; of the highest quality.

🚫 Antonyms

terrible (adj.) – Extremely bad or unpleasant.

awful (adj.) – Very bad or unpleasant.

mediocre (adj.) – Of only average or moderate quality.

🌱 Derivatives

marvelously (adv.) – In a wonderful or astonishing manner.

marvelousness (n.) – The quality of being marvelous.

📖 Cultural Story

Originally from Latin 'mirabilis', meaning 'to be wondered at'. It entered English via Old French in the 1300s, often used in medieval tales to describe magical or extraordinary feats, cementing its association with awe and delight.