phenomenal
Americanadjective
-
highly extraordinary or prodigious; exceptional.
phenomenal speed.
- Synonyms:
- unprecedented, surpassing, outstanding, uncommon
-
of or relating to phenomena.
-
of the nature of a phenomenon; cognizable by the senses.
adjective
-
of or relating to a phenomenon
-
extraordinary; outstanding; remarkable
a phenomenal achievement
-
philosophy known or perceived by the senses rather than the mind
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of phenomenal
First recorded in 1815–25; phenomen(on) + -al 1
Explanation
If you think something is amazing, astounding, or marvelous, you can also call it phenomenal. Your dog's phenomenal performance at the agilty competition earned her a blue ribbon — and a handful of biscuits. Phenomenal things aren't just cool — they're truly remarkable and possibly even unique. Your sister's campaign to raise money for cancer research, which amassed a million dollars in two weeks? That's phenomenal. And Serena Williams, having won an unprecedented 23 Grand Slam titles, is without question a phenomenal tennis player. This extraordinary word comes from the relatively ordinary Greek phainomenon, "appearance," and its Proto-Indo-European root bha-, "to shine."
Vocabulary lists containing phenomenal
The Crossover
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Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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Boy: Tales of Childhood
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"His match plans always worked. He would dissect the opponents and always find solutions with his analysis. It was phenomenal," he told Spox.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
“He’s done a phenomenal job,” said right fielder Kyle Tucker, who also had a three-hit night.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026
“The whole data ecosystem, data infrastructure ecosystem and cybersecurity together are phenomenal thematic opportunities to play the AI cycle.”
From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026
“The response to the Royal Pop Collection has been phenomenal worldwide,” a Swatch spokesman said Monday, after the crowds had cleared.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Despite his phenomenal memory, Bobby as an adult could never remember the moves of that game with Pavey.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
