magical

magical — adjective

1. involving or produced by supernatural forces that make impossible or extraordina

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

involving or produced by supernatural forces that make impossible or extraordinary things happen

Example

Takeshi found a magical ring under his grandmother's old wooden bed.

collocation: magical ring (object with supernatural powers)

The witch spoke a magical spell and turned the frog into a prince.

collocation: magical spell

Common collocations
  • magical powers
  • magical spell
  • magical world
  • magical creature
  • magical object
Synonyms
  • supernatural

    broader term covering anything beyond the laws of nature, not limited to spells or charms

  • enchanted

    suggests something has been placed under a magic spell, often involving objects or places

  • mystical

    more spiritual or religious in tone, less about active spell-casting

Antonyms
  • natural

    following the ordinary laws of nature, without supernatural involvement

  • ordinary

    everyday and unremarkable, without any special powers

Grammar Patterns

magical + noun

be + magical

Usage Note

This sense refers to actual supernatural powers, not to things that are simply wonderful. For the figurative meaning, see sense 2 (WONDERFUL).

Common Mistakes

The magician performed a magical trick.
The magician performed a magic trick.
for stage performances and tricks, use 'magic' as the adjective, not 'magical'.
She has magical powers that let her read minds.
She has psychic powers that let her read minds.
'magical' describes supernatural forces that make impossible things happen, not specifically mind-reading abilities.

2. so beautiful, pleasant, or special that it feels like something from a dream or

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

so beautiful, pleasant, or special that it feels like something from a dream or a fairy tale

Example

Watching the sunset from the hilltop was a magical experience for Quan.

predicative: be + magical (experience)

There is something magical about the way morning light fills the garden.

pattern: there is something magical about + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • magical moment
  • magical experience
  • magical night
  • magical feeling
  • magical atmosphere
Synonyms
  • wonderful

    more common and general; can be used in any positive situation

  • enchanting

    softer and more poetic, often describing places or people that charm you

  • marvelous

    more common in American English; emphasises surprise and admiration

  • delightful

    suggests a gentle, pleasant enjoyment rather than strong wonder

Antonyms
  • ordinary

    not special or remarkable in any way

  • boring

    uninteresting and dull; the opposite of exciting

  • dreadful

    extremely unpleasant; the opposite of wonderful

Grammar Patterns

magical + noun

be + magical

there is something magical about + noun/gerund

Usage Note

Common in descriptions of experiences, places, and moments. Often used with nouns like moment, experience, night, feeling, atmosphere.

Common Mistakes

The food was magical.
The food was wonderful / delicious.
'magical' is best for experiences and atmospheres, not for tastes. Use 'wonderful' or 'delicious' for food.
It was a magical boring day.
It was a magical day.
'magical' already means extremely positive; do not pair it with negative words.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/2

Magical, wonderful, enchanting, and marvelous all describe something extremely pleasant, but they differ in tone. Magical suggests a sense of wonder that feels almost unreal — like a magical evening under the stars where everything seems perfect. Wonderful is the most general and widely used term, suitable for anything that brings joy or satisfaction, from a nice meal to good news. Enchanting carries a gentler, dreamlike quality and is often used for places, scenery, or people that charm you quietly. Marvelous (more common in American English) emphasises admiration and surprise — you might call a stunning achievement or a remarkable view marvelous. For everyday praise, wonderful is the safest choice; for more emotional or memorable experiences, magical or enchanting adds deeper feeling.

magical ↗wonderful ↗enchanting ↗marvelous ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • something magical
  • a magical touch

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Magical comes from the noun magic, which entered English through Old French magique, from Latin magice, and ultimately from Greek magikē tekhnē meaning 'the art of the Magi'. The Magi were ancient Persian priests who were believed to have supernatural powers. Over time, the word came to describe anything relating to such powers, and adding the suffix -al turned it into an adjective meaning 'relating to magic'.