cosmic

adjective

cos·​mic ˈkäz-mik 

variants or less commonly cosmical

ˈkäz-mi-kəl 

1

a

: of or relating to the cosmos, the extraterrestrial vastness, or the universe in contrast to the earth alone

cosmic radiation

b

: of, relating to, or concerned with abstract spiritual or metaphysical (see metaphysical sense 2) ideas

cosmic wisdom

2

: characterized by greatness especially in extent, intensity, or comprehensiveness

a cosmic thinker

a book of cosmic significance

cosmically

ˈkäz-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms of cosmic

• giant
• gigantic
• huge
• vast
• tremendous
• enormous
• massive
• colossal
• astronomical
• mammoth
• monumental
• bumper
• immense
• titanic
• galactic
• monster
• planetary
• monstrous
• mountainous
• grand
• oceanic

Examples of cosmic in a Sentence

The discovery caused a cosmic shift in people's views of the world.

predicted that the war would forever be regarded as a cosmic error

Recent Examples on the Web

The theory, called covarying coupling constants plus tired light (CCC+TL), proposes that fundamental constants governing physical interactions change together over cosmic time. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026

Covering an area of the sky equivalent to 19 full moons, as seen from our vantage point, this cosmic Kaiju was discovered in late 2022 by Japanese astronomers using data from the Subaru Telescope. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2026

In September 2022, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft smacked into a cosmic rock named Dimorphos at a speed of around 14,000 miles per hour. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2026

Named after fast-flying birds, the telescope could quickly pivot to observe blink-and-you-miss-it cosmic events such as flaring black holes. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek kosmikos, from kosmos order, universe

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cosmic

• cosmic background radiation
• cosmic dust
• cosmic microwave background
• cosmic noise
• cosmic ray
• cosmic string

Rhymes for cosmic

• osmic
• microcosmic

Kids Definition

cosmic

adjective

cos·​mic ˈkäz-mik 

1

: of or relating to the cosmos

cosmic theories

2

: extremely vast : grand

cosmic dimensions