astronomical

adjective

as·​tro·​nom·​i·​cal ˌa-strə-ˈnä-mi-kəl 

variants or less commonly astronomic

ˌa-strə-ˈnä-mik 

1

: of or relating to astronomy

astronomical observations

2

: enormously or inconceivably large or great

astronomical numbers

an astronomical price

astronomically

ˌa-strə-ˈnä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• Brobdingnagian
• bumper
• colossal
• cosmic
• cosmical
• cyclopean
• elephantine
• enormous
• galactic
• gargantuan
• giant
• gigantesque
• gigantic
• grand
• herculean
• heroic
• heroical
• Himalayan
• huge
• humongous
• humungous
• immense
• jumbo
• king-size
• king-sized
• leviathan
• mammoth
• massive
• mega
• mighty
• monster
• monstrous
• monumental
• mountainous
• oceanic
• pharaonic
• planetary
• prodigious
• super
• super-duper
• supersize
• supersized
• titanic
• tremendous
• vast
• vasty
• walloping
• whacking
• whopping

Examples of astronomical in a Sentence

The cost of the office building was astronomical.

We got an astronomical telephone bill this month.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tips on how to view astronomical events in Wisconsin: The best conditions to see the night sky will be with clear skies without clouds or haze. —Journal Sentinel, 23 Apr. 2024

Better yet, there's a lot of astronomical activity within this timeframe, making these relationships' potential even more powerful. —Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin astronomicus "of or relating to astronomy" (borrowed from Greek astronomikós "of astronomy, skilled in astronomy," from astronomía astronomy + -ikos -ic entry 1) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing astronomical

• astronomical unit

Kids Definition

astronomical

adjective

as·​tro·​nom·​i·​cal ˌas-trə-ˈnäm-i-kəl 

variants also astronomic

-ˈnäm-ik 

1

: of or relating to astronomy

2

: extremely or unbelievably large

the cost was astronomical

astronomically

-ˈnäm-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb