ethereal
adjective
William Beebe
Did you know?
If you're burning to know the history of ethereal, you're in the right spirit to fully understand the word's etymology. The ancient Greeks believed that the Earth was composed of earth, air, fire, and water, but that the heavens and its denizens were made of a purer, less tangible substance known (in English transliteration) as either quintessence or ether. Ether was often described as an invisible light or fire; its name comes from the Greek verb aithein, meaning "to ignite" or "to blaze." When ethereal, the adjectival kin of ether, debuted in English in the 1500s, it described regions beyond the Earth or anything that seemed to originate from them.
Examples of ethereal in a Sentence
Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2025
His magic isn’t numinous or ethereal.
—Lev Grossman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
The ethereal gown featured a dazzling asymmetrical gold corset that showed off Kardashian's curves.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
The ethereal structure comprises 297 stainless steel panels that had to be carefully fitted together and integrated with the curving staircases, whose wood elements evoke a ship’s deck.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ethereal
Cite this Entry
“Ethereal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethereal. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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ethereal
adjective
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ethereal
adjective
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