$Y_2O_3$:Eu red phosphor was prepared by microwave synthesis. The crystal phase, particle morphology, and luminescent properties were characterized by XRD, SEM, and spectrofluorometer, respectively. The prepared $Y_2O_3$:Eu particles had good crystallinity and strong red emission under ultravioletet excitation. The crystallite size increased with calcination temperature and satuarated at $1200^{circ}C$. The primary particle size initially formed was varied from 30 to 450 nm with microwave-irradiation (MI) time. It was found that the emission intensity of $Y_2O_3$:Eu phosphor strongly depends on the MI time. In terms of the emission intensity, it was recommended that the MI time should be less than 15 min. The emission intensity of $Y_2O_3$:Eu phosphor prepared by microwave syntehsis strongly depended on the crystallite size of which an optimal size range was 50-60 nm.