Gorgeous
/ˈɡɔːrdʒəs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Gorgeous describes something or someone that looks very beautiful, shining, or impressive. It is stronger than just "nice" or "pretty" and shows a high level of beauty or charm that catches attention easily.
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⚡ See It in Action
Very beautiful or attractive in appearance
- •She wore a gorgeous red dress to the party.
- •The garden looked gorgeous in the spring sunshine.
- •That painting is absolutely gorgeous.
Used to describe something impressive or wonderful (less common)
- •What a gorgeous idea for a birthday gift!
- •The view from the mountain was simply gorgeous.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "gorgeous" like "beautiful," but much stronger and more impressive, like a bright flower instead of a simple leaf
- ✓Picture a bright, colorful sunset that makes you stop and look because it is so lovely and amazing
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you see something or someone that makes you smile because they look so wonderful
- ✓Sounds like "GORE-jus" → imagine a glowing jewel that shines and catches your eye immediately
- ✓Think of famous movie stars or models who look very attractive and elegant on the red carpet
- ✓NOT like "nice" (simple, everyday good), "gorgeous" is special and stands out strongly
- ✓NOT like "pretty" (soft, gentle beauty), "gorgeous" is bold and very eye-catching
- ✓NOT like "handsome" (usually used for men), "gorgeous" is often used for women or things with strong beauty
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Stunning: very impressive and beautiful (Use when you want to show surprise or strong admiration)
- •Lovely: nice and pleasant to look at (Use for softer, gentle beauty)
- •Attractive: pleasing to look at (Use in general for things or people that look good)
- •Magnificent: very grand and beautiful (Use for large, impressive things like buildings or views)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: Root word "gorge" + suffix "-ous" meaning "full of" or "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Old French "gorgias," meaning elegant or fine, originally from "gorge" (throat, neck) suggesting something decorated or rich
- •Historical development: The word evolved in English to mean splendid or beautiful, especially in appearance
- •Modern usage: Used mostly to describe people, places, or things that are very beautiful or impressive; common in spoken and written English to show admiration
💭 Reflect & Connect
•What kinds of things do you think are "gorgeous" in your own culture or life?
•How does using a strong word like "gorgeous" change the way you describe people or places compared to simpler words like "nice" or "pretty"?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She looked ___ in her new dress, and everyone stopped to admire her ___ style.
2.The sunset was ___, with colors so bright they made the sky look like a ___ painting.
3.When you say something is "gorgeous," you usually mean it is more ___ than just "nice" or "pretty."
4.The flowers in the garden were ___, but the roses were the most ___ of all.
5.He gave her a ___ compliment because he wanted to show strong ___ for her beauty.
6.The room was decorated so ___ that it felt like a ___ place from a storybook.
7.If you call a person "gorgeous," it means you think they look very ___ and ___ to you.