miracle
Americannoun
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miracles
plural
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an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
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such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
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a wonder; marvel.
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a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality.
a miracle of modern acoustics.
noun
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an event that is contrary to the established laws of nature and attributed to a supernatural cause
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any amazing or wonderful event
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a person or thing that is a marvellous example of something
the bridge was a miracle of engineering
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short for miracle play
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(modifier) being or seeming a miracle
a miracle cure
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of miracle
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English miracle, miracul, from Old French miracle, from Latin mīrāculum, from mīrā(rī) “to wonder at” + -culum -cle 2
Explanation
A miracle is an event so marvelous that it seems like it was sent from above. Catching that foul ball from the stands at the World Series? A miracle! Miracle, a noun meaning “amazing or wonderful occurrence," comes from the Latin miraculum “object of wonder." Dig way back and the word derives from smeiros, meaning "to smile," which is exactly what you do when a miracle happens. To quote the American-French author Anais Nin, “The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.” Just ask any rock star.
Vocabulary lists containing miracle
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
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The Circuit
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"The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury
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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.
See Examples For:
"If there is someone alive, it would be a miracle, but I don't think there's anyone alive underneath," said Fernando Gaitan, a 55-year-old restaurant delivery worker.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
A company that spends a decade and a fortune inventing a miracle prices it high and counts on a determined few to pay, often leaving everyone else out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
"The reunion was like a miracle from God. To see our daughter back sitting among us is a gift and blessing that could not be thanked enough for."
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
His way of caring felt like a miracle because you don’t even have to explain anything to him, he would just know.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
I wanted to ask Elliot why he was so worried about the miracle man, but we had to jump apart a second later to avoid getting trampled.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Now Jurgen Klopp has been asked to work miracles for his country.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
AFP journalists saw devotees deliberately puncturing their skin with glass shards attached to a small wooden paddle to ensure their bleeding during the ritual, a way to atone for sins and seek miracles from God.
From Barron's ● Apr. 3, 2026
The holiday “for the rest of us” was popularized by the show as a secular, noncommercial alternative to Christmas that also features an airing of grievances, feats of strength and Festivus miracles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026
Never mind the miracles — according to Scripture, Sarah lived to 127 years old, while Abraham was kicking up dust until he was 175.
From Salon ● Mar. 29, 2026
I just said what happened, which is that my mom says we saw three full-on miracles.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
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.
