marvelous

marvelous — adjective

1. so good or enjoyable that it gives you a feeling of great pleasure or admiration

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

so good or enjoyable that it gives you a feeling of great pleasure or admiration

Example

Manuela's homemade lasagna was absolutely marvelous — everyone asked for the recipe.

We had a marvelous time exploring the old streets of Kyoto together.

collocation: have a marvelous + time / experience / dinner

Common collocations
  • marvelous time
  • marvelous idea
  • marvelous job
  • marvelous success
  • marvelous performance
Synonyms
  • excellent

    more formal than marvelous; used for very high standards

  • wonderful

    very similar in meaning and register; emphasizes causing delight

  • superb

    more formal; of the highest possible quality

  • fantastic

    informal; very enthusiastic in tone

Antonyms
  • terrible

    the opposite of extremely good

  • awful

    informal opposite meaning very bad

Grammar Patterns

marvelous + noun

be/seem/look + marvelous

it is marvelous + to-infinitive / that-clause

what a marvelous + noun

Usage Note

Frequently used in exclamatory sentences (What a marvelous…!) and in informal spoken English to express strong enthusiasm.

Common Mistakes

The cake tastes marvelous good.
The cake tastes marvelous.' or 'The cake tastes marvelously good.
'marvelous' is an adjective; use the adverb 'marvelously' to modify another adjective.

2. having qualities that seem to come from a supernatural or divine power; like a m

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

having qualities that seem to come from a supernatural or divine power; like a miracle

Example

The community saw the sudden end to the long drought as a marvelous event.

Tamar said that an old folk tale describes a marvelous light appearing in the chapel every winter.

collocation: marvelous + light / vision / healing

Common collocations
  • marvelous event
  • marvelous vision
  • marvelous healing
  • marvelous powers
  • marvelous light
Synonyms
  • miraculous

    more direct than marvelous; specifically relates to a miracle

  • supernatural

    stresses agency beyond natural laws, not necessarily positive

  • divine

    specifically relating to a god or deity

Antonyms
  • ordinary

    the opposite of supernatural or miraculous

  • natural

    the opposite of supernatural

Grammar Patterns

marvelous + noun

be/seem + marvelous

Usage Note

This sense appears mainly in literary, religious, or legendary contexts. It is less common in everyday conversation than Sense 1.

Common Mistakes

The old book spoke of a marvelous from heaven.
The old book spoke of a marvelous sign from heaven.
'marvelous' is an adjective and must modify a noun; it cannot stand alone as a noun.