gorgeous
Americanadjective
-
strikingly beautiful or magnificent
gorgeous array
a gorgeous girl
-
informal extremely pleasing, fine, or good
gorgeous weather
Synonym Usage
See magnificent.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gorgeous
First recorded in 1490–1500; earlier gorgeouse, from Old French gorgias “fashionable, elegant,” of uncertain origin, perhaps connected to gorge “throat”; see gorge
Explanation
Reach for the adjective gorgeous to describe jaw-droppingly beautiful, magnificent people or things. Good-looking is one thing. Beautiful is another. But reserve gorgeous for the kind of looks that take your breath away. Some synonyms include resplendent, dazzling, spectacular, and splendid. We know that the word comes from Old French gorgias, meaning "elegant," but beyond that it's hard to say for sure. It might have something to do with fancy necklaces adorning the throat — la gorge in French. If calling someone gorgeous isn't enough, pack some extra punch and say "drop-dead gorgeous" instead.
Vocabulary lists containing gorgeous
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Call of Beauty: Synonyms for "Beautiful"
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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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.
It has the effect of restoring the primacy of aesthetics over politics when looking at gorgeous art.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
The thing is that the coast is gorgeous.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
To get there, you drive deep into rural Leicestershire, to a gated house where you're greeted by his wife, Amy, and two gorgeous but "unruly" dogs.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Ella Rubin, Bo Bragason and Amelie Hoeferle lead an outstanding cast of young actors, and the gorgeous scenery of Canada’s Lake Muskoka doesn’t hurt.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
“She went to a Renaissance Faire upstate. Isn’t her crown gorgeous? She got to wear this whole costume. See?”
From "A Soft Place to Land" by Janae Marks
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.
