incredible
Something that is incredible is amazing, very good, or hard to believe.
Explanation at your level:
Incredible is a word for 'very, very good.' If you see a beautiful cat, you can say, 'That is an incredible cat!' It means you are very happy and surprised. You use it when you like something a lot. It is a fun word to use with your friends when you are excited.
When something is incredible, it is better than just 'good.' It is amazing. You can use it to talk about food, movies, or sports. For example, 'The pizza was incredible!' It is a very common word in English. Use it when you want to show that you are impressed by something you see or hear.
At the B1 level, you can use incredible to describe experiences. It is often used to emphasize a positive feeling. For example, 'We had an incredible time on our holiday.' It is slightly stronger than 'great' or 'nice.' Remember, because it is a strong adjective, you don't usually need to add 'very' before it. Just saying 'It was incredible' is enough to show your excitement!
As a B2 learner, you will notice that incredible can also mean 'hard to believe' in a negative or neutral way, though this is less common today. Most of the time, it serves as a high-frequency intensifier for positive experiences. It fits well in both spoken and written English, especially when you are writing reviews or telling stories about your life. It adds a layer of enthusiasm to your narrative.
At the C1 level, you should recognize the nuance of incredible as a hyperbolic term. While it literally means 'unbelievable,' it is almost exclusively used as a synonym for 'extraordinary' or 'superb.' You can use it in professional contexts to praise a colleague's work, such as 'Your contribution to the project was incredible.' It is a versatile tool for persuasion and storytelling. Be aware that because it is so common, using it too frequently can dilute its impact; consider using synonyms like 'remarkable' or 'phenomenal' for variety.
Mastery of incredible involves understanding its etymological shift from a literal descriptor of 'impossibility' to a modern superlative. In literary contexts, authors might use it to play with this duality—describing something as 'incredible' to suggest it is both wonderful and truly beyond the realm of reality. You might see it used in academic or formal writing to describe complex phenomena that defy easy explanation. At this level, you can use it to create strong, emotive prose, but you should also be sensitive to the register. In very formal scientific writing, 'incredible' might be considered too subjective; 'unprecedented' or 'extraordinary' might be preferred. Use it to convey genuine passion and to elevate your descriptions of events or people.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Adjective meaning amazing or hard to believe.
- Used to express high praise.
- Common in both formal and casual English.
- Do not use 'very' before it.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word incredible. At its core, it describes something that is truly extraordinary or impressive. Think of it as a super-powered version of 'good' or 'amazing'.
You will often hear people use this word when they are genuinely surprised by how wonderful something is. Whether it is an incredible sunset or an incredible talent, the word carries a sense of awe. It is one of those words that adds a lot of energy to your sentences!
The word incredible has a fascinating journey. It comes from the Latin word incredibilis, which is a combination of in- (meaning 'not') and credere (meaning 'to believe'). So, literally, it meant 'not able to be believed.'
Originally, it was used to describe things that were literally impossible or unbelievable. Over time, the meaning shifted in casual English. People started using it as a hyperbole—a way to emphasize that something was so good it felt like a miracle. It is a classic example of how language evolves from a literal definition to a more emotional, expressive one.
Using incredible is quite versatile. You can use it in almost any situation where you want to show strong admiration. It works perfectly in casual conversations with friends, like saying 'That was an incredible movie!'
In more formal settings, it still holds up well, though you might want to use it carefully. Common collocations include incredible journey, incredible opportunity, and incredible support. Because the word is quite strong, it is best used when you really mean it, rather than for everyday, mundane things.
While 'incredible' isn't usually the core of an idiom, it appears in many expressive phrases.
- Incredible as it may seem: Used to introduce a surprising fact.
- An incredible feat: Used to describe a difficult accomplishment.
- Against all incredible odds: Used when someone succeeds despite extreme difficulty.
- Incredible to behold: Used to describe something visually stunning.
- Do the incredible: Used to describe someone performing a miracle-like task.
Grammatically, incredible is an adjective, so it usually comes before a noun (an incredible day) or after a linking verb (The view was incredible). It does not have a plural form because adjectives in English don't change.
For pronunciation, it is in-KRED-uh-bul. The stress is on the second syllable. Rhyming words include edible, creditable, and predictable. It is a four-syllable word that flows quite smoothly once you get the rhythm down!
Fun Fact
The word originally had a negative connotation, implying something was a lie!
Pronunciation Guide
Clear, crisp consonants.
Slightly softer 'd' sound.
Common Errors
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable
- Dropping the 'd' sound
- Adding extra syllables
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to use
Easy to pronounce
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective placement
The incredible car.
Linking verbs
It is incredible.
Superlative usage
The most incredible.
Examples by Level
The cake is incredible.
The cake is very good.
Adjective after verb.
You are incredible!
You are amazing.
Direct address.
It is an incredible day.
It is a great day.
Adjective before noun.
The dog is incredible.
The dog is very smart.
Simple sentence.
That was incredible.
That was very good.
Past tense.
An incredible gift.
A great present.
Noun phrase.
The music is incredible.
The music is beautiful.
Subject-verb-adj.
Incredible news!
Great news!
Exclamation.
The view from the mountain was incredible.
She has an incredible voice.
We had an incredible time at the party.
That is an incredible story!
The weather has been incredible lately.
He is an incredible soccer player.
What an incredible surprise!
The service at the hotel was incredible.
It was an incredible experience to travel to Japan.
The team made an incredible comeback in the second half.
She showed incredible patience with the students.
The sunset over the ocean was truly incredible.
He has an incredible talent for painting.
The speed of the new computer is incredible.
It is incredible how much the city has changed.
We received incredible support from our neighbors.
The level of detail in the sculpture is incredible.
It is incredible that they finished the project so quickly.
She has an incredible ability to solve complex problems.
The news of his promotion was absolutely incredible.
The film features an incredible cast of actors.
His dedication to the cause is nothing short of incredible.
The sheer scale of the building is incredible.
I find it incredible that they still haven't arrived.
The sheer audacity of his plan was, quite frankly, incredible.
The resilience of the local community after the disaster was incredible.
The complexity of the biological system is simply incredible.
She possesses an incredible intellect that few can match.
The historical significance of this discovery is incredible.
His performance was an incredible display of virtuosity.
It is incredible to witness such rapid technological advancement.
The narrative arc of the novel is truly incredible.
The incredible fecundity of the artist's imagination never ceased to amaze.
It is an incredible paradox that such a small country has so much influence.
The incredible tenacity of the explorers allowed them to survive the winter.
His incredible capacity for empathy made him a natural leader.
The incredible intricacy of the tapestry was breathtaking.
The sheer incredible nature of the events left the historians baffled.
She demonstrated an incredible degree of sangfroid under pressure.
The incredible longevity of the species is a subject of ongoing study.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"incredible as it may seem"
even though it is hard to believe
Incredible as it may seem, he won the race.
formal"do the incredible"
to perform a miracle
The doctors did the incredible to save him.
neutral"against all incredible odds"
succeeding when failure was likely
She succeeded against all incredible odds.
neutral"nothing short of incredible"
completely amazing
The result was nothing short of incredible.
neutral"an incredible feat"
a great accomplishment
Climbing that mountain was an incredible feat.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar spelling
Incredulous means doubting; incredible means amazing.
He was incredulous at the news.
Root word
Credible means believable; incredible means unbelievable.
A credible witness.
None
None
An incredible day.
Synonym
Unbelievable can be negative; incredible is usually positive.
The mess was unbelievable.
Sentence Patterns
It is incredible that [clause]
It is incredible that he won.
Find it incredible to [verb]
I find it incredible to see this.
An incredible [noun]
An incredible story.
The [noun] was incredible
The food was incredible.
Incredible as it may seem
Incredible as it may seem, it is true.
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Incredible is already a strong adjective; 'very' is redundant.
While 'incredibly good' is grammatically fine, 'incredible' is more concise.
Incredulous means 'not believing'; incredible means 'amazing'.
Spelling error; drop the 'e' before adding 'ly'.
Usually paired with 'to' when expressing a personal opinion.
Tips
Memory Palace
Place the word on your front door.
Native Speakers
Use it to show genuine enthusiasm.
Cultural Insight
It is a staple of American hype culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Use it as a predicate adjective.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'KRED' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Avoid 'very incredible'.
Did You Know?
It has Latin roots.
Study Smart
Use it in your daily journal.
Writing Tip
Use it to add impact to your sentences.
Speaking Tip
Emphasize the second syllable.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
IN-CRED-IBLE: I Need CREDit for being IB-LE (able) to do amazing things.
Visual Association
Imagine a superhero doing something impossible.
Word Web
Challenge
Use 'incredible' instead of 'good' all day today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: Not able to be believed
Cultural Context
None, generally a very positive word.
Used heavily in American English for positive reinforcement.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- incredible effort
- incredible results
- incredible progress
at school
- incredible project
- incredible student
- incredible grades
traveling
- incredible view
- incredible journey
- incredible experience
socializing
- incredible time
- incredible person
- incredible story
Conversation Starters
"What is the most incredible thing you have ever seen?"
"Do you know anyone with an incredible talent?"
"Have you had an incredible experience lately?"
"What makes a movie incredible to you?"
"Can you describe an incredible meal you had?"
Journal Prompts
Write about an incredible day you had.
Describe an incredible person you admire.
What is an incredible goal you want to achieve?
Write about an incredible place you visited.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is redundant.
Mostly positive.
Incredibility.
Yes, very.
Yes, 'She is an incredible person'.
I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E.
Literally yes, but usually means 'amazing'.
Yes, to praise work.
Test Yourself
The food was ___.
Incredible describes good food.
Which means amazing?
Incredible is a synonym for amazing.
Incredible can mean 'bad'.
It is almost always used for positive things.
Word
Meaning
Matching synonyms.
Subject-Verb-Adjective order.
It is ___ that he won.
Needs an adjective here.
Which is an antonym?
Ordinary is the opposite of extraordinary/incredible.
Incredible is a verb.
It is an adjective.
Complex noun phrase structure.
The ___ of his story was hard to accept.
Needs a noun here.
Score: /10
Summary
Incredible describes something so amazing that it feels almost impossible.
- Adjective meaning amazing or hard to believe.
- Used to express high praise.
- Common in both formal and casual English.
- Do not use 'very' before it.
Memory Palace
Place the word on your front door.
Native Speakers
Use it to show genuine enthusiasm.
Cultural Insight
It is a staple of American hype culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Use it as a predicate adjective.
