behemoth

noun

be·​he·​moth bi-ˈhē-məth How to pronounce behemoth (audio)
ˈbē-ə-məth,
-ˌmäth,
-ˌmȯth How to pronounce behemoth (audio)
often attributive
1
often capitalized religion : a mighty animal described in Job 40:15–24 as an example of the power of God
2
: something of monstrous size, power, or appearance
a behemoth truck

Did you know?

In the biblical book of Job, Behemoth is the name of a powerful grass-eating, river-dwelling beast with bones likened to bronze pipes and limbs likened to iron bars. Scholars have speculated that the biblical creature was inspired by the hippopotamus, but details about the creature’s exact nature are vague. The word first passed from Hebrew into Latin, where, according to 15th century English poet and monk John Lydgate it referred to "a beast rude full of cursednesse." In modern English, behemoth mostly functions as an evocative term for something of monstrous size, power, or appearance.

Examples of behemoth in a Sentence

the newest SUV is a gas-guzzling behemoth that doesn't even fit in a standard parking space
Recent Examples on the Web Daunt’s approach to fixing Barnes & Noble rests on running the 614-store chain more like a series of regional bookstores than a single national behemoth with centralized decision-making, with each store responsive to what local readers want. Byphil Wahba, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024 Fast-fashion chains like Zara and H&M peddled unisex pantomimes of these skinny upmarket styles, and before long, so did mass-retail behemoths like Old Navy and Target, signaling and consolidating small pants’ grip on the zeitgeist. Jonah Weiner, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Now Nvidia is an absolute behemoth, with a skyrocketing stock value and a tight grip on the most impactful—and controversial—tech of this era. Lauren Goode, WIRED, 29 Feb. 2024 The behemoth of a market has undeniably become a beacon in Orange County. Sarah Mosqueda, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Founding company Sanrio has grown into a retail and entertainment behemoth with amusement parks and restaurants throughout Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Heather Chen, CNN, 24 Feb. 2024 Then Swift is back on the road, on the way to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia to continue her behemoth tour. Bryan West, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 The behemoth has 54 suites, for instance, as well as a speakeasy bar, two swimming pools, two restaurants, and a spa. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 28 Feb. 2024 Boasting a rich history with the entertainment behemoth dating back to 1992, Mayer’s track record is punctuated by pivotal roles in orchestrating game-changing mergers and acquisitions, including groundbreaking deals for Marvel, Pixar, and key assets of 21st Century Fox. Massimo Marioni, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'behemoth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin, from Hebrew bĕhēmōth

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of behemoth was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Behemoth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behemoth. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

behemoth

noun
be·​he·​moth bi-ˈhē-məth How to pronounce behemoth (audio) ˈbē-ə-ˌməth How to pronounce behemoth (audio)
-ˌmäth,
-ˌmȯth
1
often capitalized : an animal described in the Bible that is probably the hippopotamus
2
: something of monstrous size or power

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