gorgeous

gorgeous — adjective

1. so strikingly beautiful or pleasing that it makes a strong, favourable impressio

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

so strikingly beautiful or pleasing that it makes a strong, favourable impression on the senses — used of a person's appearance, a place, an object, the weather, or an experience such as a meal or a view.

Example

The sunset over the ocean was absolutely gorgeous, with shades of pink and gold.

collocation: absolutely gorgeous — common intensifier pattern

Mira wore a gorgeous blue dress to her sister's wedding last Saturday.

gorgeous + noun describing clothing

Common collocations
  • absolutely gorgeous
  • really gorgeous
  • gorgeous view
  • gorgeous sunset
  • gorgeous weather
  • gorgeous dress
  • gorgeous smile
  • gorgeous hair
  • gorgeous day
  • gorgeous flower
Synonyms
  • beautiful

    the most general term; less intense than gorgeous, suitable for all contexts

  • stunning

    slightly stronger than gorgeous, suggests a shocking or breathtaking level of beauty

  • lovely

    warmer and softer in tone; especially common in British English for both appearance and experiences ('a lovely day')

  • magnificent

    reserved for grand or impressive things such as large buildings, palaces, or vast landscapes; more formal than gorgeous

Antonyms
  • ugly

    the direct opposite in terms of appearance

  • hideous

    much stronger and more negative than ugly; suggests something extremely unpleasant to look at

Grammar Patterns

gorgeous + noun

be / look / feel / taste + gorgeous

Usage Note

Gorgeous is a strong adjective. In everyday English it is more common to intensify it with 'absolutely' or 'really' than with 'very', since 'very gorgeous' can sound unnatural to native speakers.

Common Mistakes

She looks very gorgeous tonight.
She looks absolutely gorgeous tonight.
'Gorgeous' is a strong adjective and pairs more naturally with 'absolutely' or 'really' than with 'very'.
It was a gorgeous weather for a picnic.
The weather was gorgeous for a picnic.
'Weather' is uncountable and does not take the indefinite article 'a'.

Word family

  • gorgeously
    adverbB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Beautiful is the most general word for pleasing the eye or mind and works in almost any context. Stunning is stronger and describes something so beautiful it almost shocks you — like a view that leaves you speechless. Lovely is warmer and softer, common in British English for both appearance and experience ('a lovely afternoon'). Magnificent is reserved for grand, impressive things — large buildings, vast landscapes, formal settings. You would call a person 'gorgeous' but not typically 'magnificent' outside of very formal praise. For example: 'The sunset was gorgeous' (warm everyday admiration) versus 'The palace was magnificent' (formal, grand awe).

beautiful ↗stunning ↗lovely ↗magnificent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • look gorgeous
  • feel gorgeous
  • taste gorgeous
  • gorgeous to look at

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Gorgeous entered English in the 1400s from Old French 'gorgias', meaning fashionable or elegant. That word probably comes from 'gorge' (throat), referring to a piece of fine cloth worn around the neck or head. Over time the meaning shifted from 'richly dressed' to 'splendid or beautiful in general.'