What does fabulously mean?
"Fabulously" is an adverb meaning to an extraordinarily good, impressive, or remarkable degree. It has two closely related uses: praising how well something is done ("she sang fabulously") and intensifying adjectives that describe exceptional qualities, most often wealth or success ("fabulously rich," "fabulously talented"). The word derives from Latin fabulosus, via Old French, ultimately from fabula, meaning "story" or "fable" — so it originally carried the sense of something existing only in legend or myth before shifting to mean simply marvelous or astonishing. Today it is common in both British and American English and carries an upbeat, admiring connotation, appearing frequently in journalism, celebrity coverage, and everyday praise. Its strong association with prosperity makes phrases like "fabulously wealthy" among its most recognizable uses, and it pairs naturally with compliments about style, performance, and achievement.
To an extraordinarily good or impressive degree; extremely well.
"The team performed fabulously throughout the entire tournament."
Most often found in evaluative contexts — praising performances, appearances, or outcomes.
To a remarkable or extreme degree; used as an intensifier before adjectives.
"They lived in a fabulously opulent mansion overlooking the sea."
Collocates especially strongly with adjectives of wealth and grandeur.
Before it meant 'amazing,' fabulous literally meant 'existing only in fables' — so calling someone fabulously wealthy once implied their riches might be pure myth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fabulously
"Fabulously" comes from "fabulous," which derives from Latin fabulosus, meaning "celebrated in fable" or "mythical," from fabula ("story, fable"). The Latin root passed through Old French into Middle English, where "fabulous" originally described things that existed only in tales or legend. The sense later broadened to mean "astonishing" and then "extraordinarily good." Related words sharing the same root include "fable," "fabulist" (a teller of tales), and "confabulate" (to talk informally, from com- plus fabulari).
Related word forms
How fabulously is actually used
"Fabulously" carries an enthusiastic, often informal or journalistic tone in everyday use, though it appears freely in formal writing as well. It collocates strongly with words of prosperity — wealth, rich, successful — and with praise of appearance or performance. In casual speech it functions much like "amazingly" or "incredibly."
Easily confused with fabulously
"Fabulous" is an adjective describing something extraordinary (a fabulous party), while "fabulously" is its adverb form modifying verbs and adjectives (dressed fabulously).