gorgeous

adjective

gor·​geous ˈgȯr-jəs How to pronounce gorgeous (audio)
: splendidly or showily brilliant or magnificent
gorgeously adverb
gorgeousness noun

Did you know?

In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning “throat,” was the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. A beautiful headdress was so much the mark of a fashionable lady that Gorgias then became an adjective meaning “elegant” or “fond of dress.” Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of “beautiful” that it has today.

Choose the Right Synonym for gorgeous

splendid, resplendent, gorgeous, glorious, sublime, superb mean extraordinarily or transcendently impressive.

splendid implies outshining the usual or customary.

the wedding was a splendid occasion

resplendent suggests a glowing or blazing splendor.

resplendent in her jewelry

gorgeous implies a rich splendor especially in display of color.

a gorgeous red dress

glorious suggests radiance that heightens beauty or distinction.

a glorious sunset

sublime implies an exaltation or elevation almost beyond human comprehension.

a vision of sublime beauty

superb suggests an excellence reaching the highest conceivable degree.

her singing was superb

Examples of gorgeous in a Sentence

The difference in appearance can be dramatic, as I saw on a visit to the small, modern factory where Pineider prints its stationery, in a gorgeous part of Tuscany near Florence and bordering Chianti. Corby Kummer, Atlantic, May 2001
In the Arlberg … my wife and I were taken to the most perfect dinner by an elderly Viennese couple and their gorgeous young daughter, whom we had met in Washington. Geoffrey Wolff, Granta, Autumn 1990
Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand, and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900
Your baby is absolutely gorgeous! sunsets in Hawaii are just gorgeous
Recent Examples on the Web But with the city's gorgeous Falls Park on the Reedy, a walkable and lively downtown, and the 22-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail connecting major attractions throughout the city, there's really no reason to leave. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 This kickoff bash was held on the eve of the annual Sagra del Pesce, a fish festival that pays homage to the patron saint of fishermen and the lifeline of the tiny village of Camogli on the Italian Riviera, a stretch of gorgeous coastline along the Ligurian Sea. Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2024 Lohan also made her return to the big screen with a cameo in movie-musical Mean Girls — two decades after starring in the original 2004 film — and served up a gorgeous all-black look at its January premiere. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Tan’s gorgeous aerie above San Francisco Bay, with its canopy of four Pacific live oaks, is a paradise for birds, hosting 63 species and counting. Heller McAlpin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The Scout Indoor/Outdoor Chair also makes a gorgeous addition to any outdoor seating vision and can be brought into your home during the off season. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2024 The outdoor space is an entertainer’s paradise with a refreshing saltwater pool, gorgeous vegetation, vibrant fruit trees, whimsical walking paths and a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen setup. Bang Advertising Staff and Correspondents, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 This pattern also comes in six gorgeous colorways, from black and white to vibrant green. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 In that one, Moment Factory did a sublime job of using the gorgeous space to take visitors into another realm, one of spirituality, nature, and, most importantly in these hectic times, relaxation. Steve Baltin, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gorgeous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English gorgeouse, from Middle French gorgias elegant, perhaps from gorgias wimple, from gorge throat

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gorgeous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near gorgeous

Cite this Entry

“Gorgeous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gorgeous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gorgeous

adjective
gor·​geous ˈgȯr-jəs How to pronounce gorgeous (audio)
: having an impressive beauty
a gorgeous sunset
gorgeously adverb
gorgeousness noun
Etymology

Middle English gorgeouse "very showy, splendid," from early French gorgias "elegant," from gorgias "headdress, wimple," from gorge "part of the wimple covering the throat, throat"

Word Origin
In the late Middle Ages many women wore a type of headdress—called a wimple in English—that surrounded the neck and head, leaving only the face uncovered. The word gorgias, from gorge, meaning "throat," was then the French name for the part of the headdress that covered the throat and shoulders. In time it also came to be used as a name for the entire garment. Perhaps because a beautiful headdress was the mark of a fashionable lady, gorgias seems to have become an adjective meaning "elegant" or "fond of dress." Borrowed into English as gorgayse and then gorgeous, the word gradually took on the meaning of "beautiful" which it has today.

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