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 convention center served as a temporary shelter for thousands of displaced residents. —Mandi Wright, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2025

This fall, plenty of beloved local and international chefs, plus notable restaurant groups and restaurateurs will be making their mark across Manhattan with new concepts spanning from small date night sushi spots to cavernous, creative Mexican group dining destinations. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Mainstream news coverage of Burning Man invariably mentions the Orgy Dome, held inside a cavernous tent-like structure that features both mattresses and air conditioning for participants who are age-screened and provide explicit consent. —Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025

Goode’s works have been incorporated into site-specific productions in the cavernous Lilienthal-Haas House in Pacific Heights, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the S.F. Mint and other distinctive venues, allowing his surroundings to play a role in the storytelling process. —Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 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