English Reference

Word

marvel

Phoneticsmar·vel

US/ˈmɑɹvəɫ/

UK/mˈɑːvəl/

US spelling · marveled

Definitions

02a wonderful thing

B2

n. something that is very impressive or surprising.

n. a person or thing that evokes wonder, astonishment, or intense admiration.

“The new bridge is a marvel of modern engineering.”

“The ancient city remains an architectural marvel, featuring complex irrigation systems that still function after two millennia.”

Usage

Often used in the phrase 'a marvel of [something]'.

03the media franchise

B1

n. a famous brand of comic books and movies featuring superheroes like Spider-Man.

n. a proper noun referring to Marvel Comics or Marvel Studios, often used as a modifier for their shared fictional universe.

“He has seen every Marvel movie released in the last ten years.”

“The success of the Marvel cinematic franchise has fundamentally altered the way major studios approach long-term narrative planning.”

Teaching tip

In modern conversation, this is most frequently used as a proper noun for the entertainment brand.

Real-World Examples

“A short walk from the market is another mid-century marvel, the Église Notre-Dame de Royan .”
The Guardian · 19 Jan 2026

Word family

marvelVerbmarvelousAdjective

Domains

FilmLiteratureTelevision

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Common
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/marvel

English Reference