marvel

American  

[mahr-vuhl] / ˈmɑr vəl /

noun

1. something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment; a wonderful thing; a wonder or prodigy.

   The new bridge is an engineering marvel.

2. Archaic. the feeling of wonder; astonishment.

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verb (used with object)

marveled, marveling, marvelled, marvelling

1. to wonder at (usually followed by a clause as object).

   I marvel that you were able to succeed against such odds.

2. to wonder or be curious about (usually followed by a clause as object).

   A child marvels that the stars can be.

verb (used without object)

marveled, marveling, marvelled, marvelling

1. to be filled with wonder, admiration, or astonishment, as at something surprising or extraordinary.

   I marvel at your courage.

marvel British  

/ ˈmɑːvəl /

verb

1. to be filled with surprise or wonder

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noun

1. something that causes wonder

2. archaic astonishment

Other Word Forms

• marvelment noun

Etymology

Origin of marvel

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English mervel, from Old French merveil(l)e, from Late Latin mīrābilia “marvels,” noun use of neuter plural of Latin mīrābilis “marvelous”; admirable

Example Sentences

No surprise, then, that the revival of “Amadeus” that opened Sunday at Pasadena Playhouse is a marvel to behold.

From Los Angeles Times

And they marvel at his willingness to embrace all the boring stuff that greatness requires.

From The Wall Street Journal

We marvel at what 50-somethings get done during a workweek, and we recall with incredulity how much we accomplished daily while working and child-rearing and housekeeping and traveling and negotiating the city.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rewind much farther, however, and we might marvel at its origin as a track that didn’t quite work.

From Salon

But Sickler pointed out that this remarkable level of candor in the audience is something he continues to marvel about.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• genius
• miracle