cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈka-vər-nəs 

1

a

: having caverns or cavities

b

of animal tissue : composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part

2

: constituting or suggesting a cavern

a cavernous warehouse

cavernously adverb

Examples of cavernous in a Sentence

We toured the cavernous airplane hangar.

The dance was held in a cavernous hall.

Recent Examples on the Web

The cavernous space, about 6,000 square-feet, lacks electricity, insulation and walls, said Fred Eichenhofer, the board chair for the Meadow Vista Community Center nonprofit. —Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2025

The league is also prioritizing having its teams play in smaller, less cavernous venues moving forward, stepping away from large stadiums such as Ford Field in Detroit and the Alamodome in San Antonio. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025

Names such as Kopke, Graham’s, Taylor’s, and Sandeman have been here for centuries, the long-standing winemakers aging ruby and tawny ports in cavernous cellars. —AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025

As if answering an altar call, congregants in the cavernous auditorium at Prestonwood rose to their feet for an extended ovation. —Michael Luo, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin cavernōsus "having hollows or depressions," from caverna "hollow space, cavern entry 1" + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈkav-ər-nəs 

1

: having caverns or cavities

2

: resembling a cavern in being large and hollow

3

: composed largely of spaces capable of filling with blood to bring about the enlargement of a body part

cavernously adverb

Medical Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈkav-ər-nəs 

1

: having caverns or cavities

2

of tissue : composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part