miracle
MIHR-uh-kuhl
Miracle (noun) means an event that seems impossible to explain through natural laws and is seen as caused by a divine or supernatural power. Example: “The pilgrims believed the healing spring was a miracle sent from heaven.”
noun
1
An event that seems impossible to explain through natural laws and is seen as caused by a divine or supernatural power.
"The pilgrims believed the healing spring was a miracle sent from heaven."
"The villagers called the sudden rain after months of drought a miracle."
"Many religious traditions describe miracles performed by their founders."
2
A wonderful, surprising, or extremely fortunate outcome.
"Finishing the project on time was a miracle, given how little help we had."
"Her recovery was nothing short of a miracle, said the nurse who cared for her."
"It was a miracle that no one was hurt in the crash."
How to use miracle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething amazing that seems to defy explanation — whether religious or simply a huge stroke of luck.
Common pairings
a miracle happened
miracle cure
by some miracle
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Word forms
- Plural
- miracles
- Third person singular
- miracles
- Past tense
- miracled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The pilgrims believed the healing spring was a _____ sent from heaven.
Etymology
From Latin miraculum ("object of wonder"), from mirus ("wonderful, astonishing").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for miracle
See all rhymes for miracle →Frequently asked questions
What does “miracle” mean?
The word “miracle” means an event that seems impossible to explain through natural laws and is seen as caused by a divine or supernatural power. In plain terms, something amazing that seems to defy explanation — whether religious or simply a huge stroke of luck.
How do you pronounce “miracle”?
“Miracle” is pronounced MIHR-uh-kuhl (/ˈmiɹ.ə.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “miracle” in a sentence?
Here is “miracle” used in a sentence: “The villagers called the sudden rain after months of drought a miracle.”
What part of speech is “miracle”?
“Miracle” is a noun.
Where does the word “miracle” come from?
The word “miracle” comes from Latin. From Latin miraculum ("object of wonder"), from mirus ("wonderful, astonishing").
Is “miracle” a common word?
“Miracle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “miracle” have?
“Miracle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an event that seems impossible to explain through natural laws and is seen as caused by a divine or supernatural power.
What is the difference between a "miracle" and a "wonder"?
A "miracle" is an event that seems impossible under natural laws and is attributed to divine or supernatural power, while a "wonder" is anything that inspires awe, whether or not it is supernatural. All miracles are wonders, but not all wonders are miracles.
What is the difference between a "miracle" and a "coincidence"?
A miracle is seen as caused by a divine or supernatural power, whereas a coincidence is a striking but purely chance occurrence with a natural explanation. Calling a fortunate outcome a "miracle" implies it goes beyond ordinary luck.
Can "miracle" be used in a non-religious way?
Yes. Besides its religious meaning, "miracle" is widely used to describe any wonderful, surprising, or extremely fortunate outcome, as in "a medical miracle" or "it was a miracle no one was hurt."
What are common collocations with "miracle"?
"Miracle" often appears in expressions like "work a miracle," "miracle cure," "miracle worker," and "economic miracle." These usually stress an outcome so favourable it seems beyond normal explanation.
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