adj Uncommon

ethereal

ih-THEER-rih-uhl

Ethereal (adj) means Extremely light, delicate, and seemingly not quite of this world. Example: “The dancer moved with an ethereal grace.”

adj

Extremely light, delicate, and seemingly not quite of this world.

"The dancer moved with an ethereal grace."

"Mist gave the forest an ethereal, dreamlike quality."

How to use ethereal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSo light, delicate, or otherworldly it seems almost unreal.

Common pairings

ethereal beauty ethereal glow ethereal music

Word forms

more ethereal comparative, most ethereal superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The dancer moved with an _____ grace.

Etymology

From Latin aetherius, from Ancient Greek aithérios (\"of the upper air\"), related to \"ether\".

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for ethereal

deal zeal teal real meal seal heal peal veal Neal beal ideal

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ethereal” mean?

The word “ethereal” means extremely light, delicate, and seemingly not quite of this world. In plain terms, so light, delicate, or otherworldly it seems almost unreal.

How do you pronounce “ethereal”?

“Ethereal” is pronounced ih-THEER-rih-uhl (/ɪˈθɪɚ.i.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “ethereal” in a sentence?

Here is “ethereal” used in a sentence: “The dancer moved with an ethereal grace.”

What part of speech is “ethereal”?

“Ethereal” is an adjective.

Where does the word “ethereal” come from?

The word “ethereal” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin aetherius, from Ancient Greek aithérios (\"of the upper air\"), related to \"ether\".

Is “ethereal” a common word?

“Ethereal” is an uncommon word in modern English.