gorgeous
Americanadjective
-
strikingly beautiful or magnificent
gorgeous array
a gorgeous girl
-
informal extremely pleasing, fine, or good
gorgeous weather
Related Words
See magnificent.
Other Word Forms
- gorgeously adverb
- gorgeousness noun
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”; 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.
In taking action, Coop becomes a modern Jean Valjean, minus the gorgeous singing voice.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
“We want to use every piece. We don’t want anything to go in the trash. And in the end, we end up with this gorgeous stuff.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
Her miscarriages, she said, were like having "all your dreams for gorgeous happy moments come crashing down" - from planning to a future with a child to total loss.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
They’re also often in gorgeous locales, so visitors can combine unregulated therapies with a stay at a luxury hotel and days spent on white-sand beaches.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
Exquisite in its size, perfect in its shape, the stone was lovelier than the finest pearl and more gorgeous than the costliest jewel.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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.
