miracle
Americannoun
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miracles
plural
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an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
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such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
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a wonder; marvel.
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a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality.
a miracle of modern acoustics.
noun
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an event that is contrary to the established laws of nature and attributed to a supernatural cause
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any amazing or wonderful event
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a person or thing that is a marvellous example of something
the bridge was a miracle of engineering
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short for miracle play
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(modifier) being or seeming a miracle
a miracle cure
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of miracle
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English miracle, miracul, from Old French miracle, from Latin mīrāculum, from mīrā(rī) “to wonder at” + -culum -cle 2
Explanation
A miracle is an event so marvelous that it seems like it was sent from above. Catching that foul ball from the stands at the World Series? A miracle! Miracle, a noun meaning “amazing or wonderful occurrence," comes from the Latin miraculum “object of wonder." Dig way back and the word derives from smeiros, meaning "to smile," which is exactly what you do when a miracle happens. To quote the American-French author Anais Nin, “The dream was always running ahead of me. To catch up, to live for a moment in unison with it, that was the miracle.” Just ask any rock star.
Vocabulary lists containing miracle
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
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The Circuit
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"The Flying Machine" by Ray Bradbury
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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.
See Examples For:
Because it seems less like a miracle and more like college football shenanigans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
To researchers, Serena’s rise is not an isolated miracle of genetics, but a classic expression of family dynamics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The fact that we can see it at all is a miracle in modern moviemaking, when so many productions never clear the enormous obstacles in their way.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2026
In the city of Stokes' greatest miracle, the home side must plot a future without a captain, all-rounder and talisman, starting against Pakistan on Wednesday.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
The fact that I noticed any of this at that moment was a minor miracle because I was still fuming over Elliot’s rude dismissal.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Their supporters don't expect miracles, but wanting a piece of what Bodo/Glimt, Midtjylland, Freiburg, Rayo Vallecano and others had, or still have, is not unreasonable given the spending power that Celtic have.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
They had come to witness more of Messi’s miracles, not his World Cup swan song.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Sometimes miracles happen, or leaders drag their regimes in a different direction.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
Asked how Reform would perform in local government he said: "We all know the finances of local councils are severely stretched - we are not promising miracles but we are promising value for money."
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
Kenny was sitting with the basketball forgotten in his lap, and, miracle of miracles, Allen had set his book aside.
From "Lawn Boy Returns" by Gary Paulsen
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.
