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
Derived 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.
The dwelling sits on a .29-acre lot and boasts a luxe backyard with an infinity-edge pool, a sunken fire pit area, and gorgeous views of the city.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Gibson might not know specs like RPMs or cylinders, but he said he appreciates the “Fast and Furious” characters’ gorgeous cars, including Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger and Brian O’Connor’s late ’90s Mitsubishi Eclipse.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Wallace describes the tribute as "just really gorgeous" and says it was "definitely the right way to go about it".
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Chris Smith’s three-part documentary on HBO examines a 1980s New York cult that preyed on the city’s most gorgeous denizens.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
It was like a movie version of an enchanted garden, gorgeous, vivid, and too beautiful to be real.
From "Breadcrumbs" by Anne Ursu
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.
