ethereal

adjective

ethe·​re·​al i-ˈthir-ē-əl 

1

a

: of or relating to the regions beyond the earth

b

: celestial, heavenly

c

: unworldly, spiritual

2

a

: lacking material substance : immaterial, intangible

b

: marked by unusual delicacy or refinement

this smallest, most ethereal, and daintiest of birds

—William Beebe

c

: suggesting the heavens or heaven

3

: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether

ethereality

i-ˌthir-ē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

etherealization

i-ˌthir-ē-ə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

etherealize

i-ˈthir-ē-ə-ˌlīz 

transitive verb

ethereally

i-ˈthir-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

etherealness noun

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.

Synonyms

• bodiless
• formless
• immaterial
• incorporeal
• insubstantial
• nonmaterial
• nonphysical
• spiritual
• unbodied
• unsubstantial

Examples of ethereal in a Sentence

The windows give the church an ethereal glow.

that ethereal attribute that every performer should have—charisma

Recent Examples on the Web

The song features Timbaland’s iconic Gregorian chant, giving it a divine and almost ethereal feel. —Ben Welles, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024

As different as water and oil, Medrano’s deep, gravelly voice contrasts with Rizzi’s soft, ethereal tone, capturing the disappointment of a love that is impossible to leave behind. —Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2024

Hanan Townshend’s score, with its heavy, rhythmic breathing and ethereal tones, cultivates a constant atmosphere of unease. —Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024

The spotlight comes in two forms: a literal cone of light, its ethereal glow coming without a clear source in the sky — and the nameless antagonist, which in true teen-horror fashion is the bloodied corpse of someone with a physical spotlight for a head. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

ethereal

adjective

ethe·​re·​al i-ˈthir-ē-əl 

1

: of or relating to the heavens : heavenly

2

: being light and airy : delicate

ethereally

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

etherealness noun

Medical Definition

ethereal

adjective

ethe·​re·​al i-ˈthir-ē-əl 

: relating to, containing, or resembling a chemical ether