Miracle: meaning, definitions and examples

🌟

Add to dictionary

miracle

[ˈmɪrək(ə)l ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in everyday life

A miracle is an extraordinary and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency.

Synonyms

marvel, phenomenon, wonder.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
miracle	Miracle is used to describe an extraordinary event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency. It's a miracle that she survived the accident. The recovery of the lost child was nothing short of a miracle.
wonder	Wonder expresses a feeling of amazement and admiration, caused by something beautiful, remarkable, or unfamiliar. It is often used to convey a sense of curiosity and awe. She felt a sense of wonder as she gazed at the night sky. The child looked at the magician with wonder.
marvel	Marvel refers to something that causes wonder or astonishment, usually because it is very impressive or unusual. It's often used to talk about human achievements or natural beauty. The new technology is a marvel of modern engineering. Tourists marvel at the ancient architecture.
phenomenon	Phenomenon is used to describe something that is observed to happen or exist, especially something whose cause or explanation is in question. It is often used in scientific or academic contexts. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon. The scientist studied the phenomenon of magnetism.

Examples of usage

It was a miracle that she survived the accident.
The doctor said it was a miracle that the patient recovered so quickly.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in religion

In religious contexts, a miracle is often seen as a sign of God's intervention in the world.

Synonyms

divine intervention, supernatural event.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
miracle	This word is often used to describe an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. It is often associated with positive outcomes and is used in both religious and non-religious contexts. The doctors said her recovery was a miracle. It's a miracle how he survived that accident.
divine intervention	Typically used in a religious context, this phrase implies that a deity has intervened in the human world to alter circumstances. It's usually used to describe a significant change or rescue from a dire situation. Many believed that the inexplicable avoidance of disaster was due to divine intervention. She prayed for divine intervention to help her family in a time of crisis.
supernatural event	This term is used to describe occurrences that go beyond the laws of nature and are often associated with paranormal phenomena. It can have a neutral or slightly eerie connotation. The sudden appearance of the ghostly figure was considered a supernatural event. People gathered to witness what some called a supernatural event, hoping to see something unexplainable.

Word

Description / Examples

miracle

This word is often used to describe an extraordinary event that cannot be explained by natural or scientific laws. It is often associated with positive outcomes and is used in both religious and non-religious contexts.

The doctors said her recovery was a miracle.
It's a miracle how he survived that accident.

divine intervention

Typically used in a religious context, this phrase implies that a deity has intervened in the human world to alter circumstances. It's usually used to describe a significant change or rescue from a dire situation.

Many believed that the inexplicable avoidance of disaster was due to divine intervention.
She prayed for divine intervention to help her family in a time of crisis.

supernatural event

This term is used to describe occurrences that go beyond the laws of nature and are often associated with paranormal phenomena. It can have a neutral or slightly eerie connotation.

The sudden appearance of the ghostly figure was considered a supernatural event.
People gathered to witness what some called a supernatural event, hoping to see something unexplainable.

Examples of usage

The Bible is full of stories of miracles performed by Jesus.
The miracle of the loaves and fishes is a well-known story from the New Testament.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'miraculum,' which means 'to wonder' or 'to marvel.'
In Old French, 'miracle' was borrowed to express extraordinary events believed to be caused by divine intervention.

Religion and Spirituality

Many religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, describe miracles as signs of divine power.
In Christian texts, events such as turning water into wine are considered pivotal miracles that symbolize transformation.

Psychology

The concept of miracles can trigger feelings of hope and positivity in individuals, often associated with coping mechanisms during tough times.
Experiencing what one perceives as a miracle can enhance personal faith or belief systems.

Pop Culture

Movies and books often depict miracles as key plot points, illustrating the triumph of good over evil or the power of love.
Popular songs frequently celebrate miraculous moments, from unexpected reunions to sudden success.

Science

While science often explains extraordinary occurrences through natural laws, some phenomena still inspire people to describe them as miraculous.
The study of phenomena like spontaneous remission in medicine sometimes evokes spiritual interpretation among individuals.

Translations

Translations of the word "miracle" in other languages:

🇵🇹 milagre

🇮🇳 चमत्कार

🇩🇪 Wunder

🇮🇩 keajaiban

🇺🇦 диво

🇵🇱 cud

🇯🇵 奇跡 (kiseki)

🇫🇷 miracle

🇪🇸 milagro

🇹🇷 mucize

🇰🇷 기적 (gijeok)

🇸🇦 معجزة (mo'jiza)

🇨🇿 zázrak

🇸🇰 zázrak

🇨🇳 奇迹 (qíjì)

🇸🇮 čudež

🇮🇸 kraftaverk

🇰🇿 ғажайып

🇬🇪 სასწაული (sasts'auli)

🇦🇿 möcüzə

🇲🇽 milagro

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,821 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.

...
6818 distinguishing
6819 concur
6820 proclamation
6821 miracle
6822 assay
6823 stirred
6824 flavor
...