magic
Americannoun
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the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, etc.; legerdemain; conjuring.
to pull a rabbit out of a hat by magic.
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the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature.
- Synonyms:
- enchantment
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the use of this art.
Magic, it was believed, could drive illness from the body.
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the effects produced.
the magic of recovery.
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power or influence exerted through this art.
a wizard of great magic.
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any extraordinary or mystical influence, charm, power, etc..
the magic in a great name;
the magic of music;
the magic of spring.
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(initial capital letter) the U.S. code name for information from decrypting machine-enciphered Japanese wireless messages before and during World War II.
adjective
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employed in magic.
magic spells;
magic dances;
magic rites.
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mysteriously enchanting; magical.
magic beauty.
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of, relating to, or due to magic.
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producing the effects of magic; magical.
a magic touch.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the art that, by use of spells, supposedly invokes supernatural powers to influence events; sorcery
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the practice of this art
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the practice of illusory tricks to entertain other people; conjuring
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any mysterious or extraordinary quality or power
the magic of springtime
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very quickly
adjective
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of or relating to magic
a magic spell
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possessing or considered to possess mysterious powers
a magic wand
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unaccountably enchanting
magic beauty
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informal wonderful; marvellous; exciting
verb
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to transform or produce by or as if by magic
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(foll by away) to cause to disappear by or as if by magic
Synonym Usage
Magic, necromancy, sorcery, witchcraft imply producing results through mysterious influences or unexplained powers. Magic may have glamorous and attractive connotations; the other terms suggest the harmful and sinister. Magic is an art employing some occult force of nature: A hundred years ago television would have seemed to be magic. Necromancy is an art of prediction based on alleged communication with the dead (it is called “the black art,” because Greek nekrós, dead, was confused with Latin niger, black): Necromancy led to violating graves. Sorcery, originally divination by casting lots, came to mean supernatural knowledge gained through the aid of evil spirits, and often used for evil ends: spells and charms used in sorcery. Witchcraft especially suggests a malign kind of magic, often used against innocent victims: Those accused of witchcraft were executed.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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magicsimple
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magicssimple
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have magickedperfect
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has magickedperfect
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am magickingprogressive
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are magickingprogressive
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is magickingprogressive
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have been magickingperfect progressive
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has been magickingperfect progressive
Past
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magickedsimple
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had magickedperfect
-
was magickingprogressive
-
were magickingprogressive
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had been magickingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of magic
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English magik(e) “witchcraft,” from Late Latin magica, Latin magicē, from Greek magikḗ, noun use of feminine of magikós “magical”; see Magus, -ic
Explanation
Magic describes those unlikely events that seem to have a supernatural force behind them. When the elevator doors open just as you approach, it may seem like magic. If you believe in witches and sorcerers, you probably already know that they can use magic to make impossible things happen. Magic is often used more broadly to describe things that just seem to involve some greater power. The waiter may appear as if by magic just when you’re craving dessert. Magic can also describe seemingly impossible tricks performed by an entertainer — a magician — such as making a person disappear or pulling a coin out of thin air.
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:
GaN technology allows a power supply of the same mass to be more efficient, Huang says, but it is no magic bullet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Carole Jones, a Labour councillor in charge of museums at Ipswich Borough Council, said the "magic" of the exhibition was the very fact The Hay Wain had not been in Suffolk before.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
After the lackluster “Black and Blue” and the mixed critical reception of “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll” and “Goats Head Soup,” some wondered if the Stones had lost their musical magic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
That’s necessary magic in an age that’s starving for it.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
I never saw anything good come of magic in the end, you know.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
These elements can be seen metaphorically in witchy films, where each member of the group represents different magics or general personality traits.
From Salon ● Oct. 19, 2024
SAT-SUN Crafts, minstrels, magics, food, activities, noon-5 p.m.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 21, 2017
His putter is not so much a stick as a wand, a thing that magics up birdie after birdie from ever-increasing distances.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2015
Such small magics are easier to come by than significance.
From Time Magazine Archive
“You think,” said Jack, “that you can do your little magics on me? Do you know what I am, boy?”
From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
The play “unfolds as a series of oil paintings magicked into life,” wrote Times critic McNulty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 29, 2025
I eventually got my tickets by ringing on the day and being given the final pair magicked up from somewhere.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2023
There are bouncy, excitable little partygoers in Act I, of course, and the diminutive dolls who spring to life at midnight as the Silberhaus parlor is magicked into a battlefield.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 24, 2022
The parents are taken in by the lavish surroundings, free fancy clothes, and free food that happens to simply appear as if magicked by house elves.
From Salon ● Jan. 20, 2022
It’s like the water has been magicked to stay inside.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
There is the all-encompassing “we,” magicking itself into existence whenever everyone online seems to agree on something.
From New York Times ● Feb. 16, 2021
She was also part of an ancient magicking clan.
From The Verge ● Oct. 26, 2018
Otherwise the Potter play is just creating a grisly resale market, and magicking up profits for secondary ticket websites.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 8, 2016
There is a lovely moment when it feels as if the audience have been personally responsible for magicking up the larder through the astonishing power of our thoughts.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 12, 2012
The cook, a trow named Wattle, ignores me and continues magicking the parsnips to chop themselves.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
