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:
"It feels like a miracle for this film with a tiny budget and a hope and a prayer, to be on the big screen."
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
“It’s not a miracle drug, but this was by far the best option I could find,” he said at the time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026
Australian rescue expert Arnold Dix, who has been supporting the operation remotely, told AFP that the rescue efforts were "back in miracle country" after a "week of 24/7 heartache".
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 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
Mom and I would go to New Mexico and soak in the miracle of blue flowers and then—and then everything would be okay again.
From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller
He probably needs to perform miracles in Las Vegas but it will be fascinating to follow his progress.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
"It's like layer upon layer of layer of miracles" that they found two men on Friday, he said, given that the multiple challenges they faced.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
Visiting international fans have rhapsodized about our hospitality and gushed over culinary miracles like ranch dressing and Philly cheesesteak while trekking to Costco like it is our version of the pyramids.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
Medical miracles depend on risk-taking, not on risk-free litigation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
"I will follow these children, wherever they go, and record their works and their miracles," I say.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
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.
