incredible
Americanadjective
-
so extraordinary as to seem impossible.
incredible speed.
-
not credible; hard to believe; unbelievable.
The plot of the book is incredible.
- Synonyms:
- preposterous, astonishing, far-fetched
adjective
-
beyond belief or understanding; unbelievable
-
informal marvellous; amazing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of incredible
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Latin word incrēdibilis. See in- 3, credible
Explanation
If it's hard to believe and hard to wrap your head around, it just might be incredible. A hurricane in Kansas would certainly be incredible, but keeping your bedroom tidy all week counts too. Incredible is commonplace and perhaps overused but it still fits the bill whenever life is beyond expectation. The Latin root credere means believe. Slap an in in front of that root, and something incredible is hard to believe.
Vocabulary lists containing incredible
Believe It or Not: Cred
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 26–31
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Commonly Confused Words, List 1
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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.
“AI is delivering value across every layer of our platform. We’re seeing incredible demand for our AI and data products,” Benioff said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
Credit markets have functioned smoothly, heavy supply has been absorbed and the main AI issuers still are “elite corporations with incredible balance sheets.”
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
"I remain convinced that for us as Africans, this project was something that could have been incredible," Eto'o told CNN, external on Monday.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
“Congratulations, Eric, on an incredible career and an incredible run,” Suppan said in a text message immediately after being contacted for this story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026
“Eddie, you’re going to be under incredible pressure when you take the million dollar shot. People will be screaming and waving banners. You know Finkle’s going to try to ice you.”
From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman
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.
