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

At moments in the song, Minogue pitches the word down, a cavernous yawn resounding far from the lub-dub of forever. — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 26 July 2026

Waiters were starting to pick up salad plates inside the cavernous Washington Hilton ballroom when a gunman opened fire near a security checkpoint outside. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Matt’s full transformation into Clayface — the true towering form with gaping mouth and deep, cavernous eyes — will be saved as a surprise for theaters. — Entertainment Weekly, 21 July 2026

Its cavernous cabin and ultra-refined interior create an ambiance that's nearly impossible to top, even in a segment that hosts luxury legends from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 17 July 2026

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