enormous

adjective enor·mous \ i-ˈnȯr-məs , ē- \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: enormous in a Sentence

Definition of enormous

1 a archaic : abnormal, inordinate

b : exceedingly wicked : shocking

an enormous sin

2 : marked by extraordinarily great size, number, or degree; especially : exceeding usual bounds or accepted notions

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enormously

adverb

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enormousness

noun

See enormous defined for English-language learners

See enormous defined for kids

Examples of enormous in a Sentence

They live in an enormous house.
We chose not to undertake the project because of the enormous costs involved.

Recent Examples of enormous from the Web

To be clear, the numbers here don’t necessarily suggest there is an enormous groundswell of support for Democratic policies or candidates.

— NBC News, "'Throw the bums out' coalition changes shape in 2018," 17 June 2018
Another piece of troubling news would be his ankle - which has caused Wilshere to miss an enormous amount of football over the years.

— SI.com, "Jack Wilshere Set to Leave Arsenal On Free Transfer After Crunch Talks With Unai Emery," 16 June 2018
Bob and Jan raised their family in East Granby, CT with enormous energy.

— courant.com, "Robert Dixon Shangraw," 15 June 2018
Jules Verne imagined dinosaurs and enormous humans living underground in Journey to the Center of the Earth, while H. Rider Haggard created a lost civilization in King Solomon’s Mines.

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "What if Napoleon Hadn’t Lost Europe and Other Questions of Alternate History," 14 June 2018
Everyone would enjoy higher interest rates, transferring an enormous windfall from banks to the people.

— david dayen, The New Republic, "Give Everyone Government Bank Accounts," 13 June 2018
Luxury apartment towers built on the ABC lot would overlook Central Park and command enormous prices.

— brian flood, Fox News, "Disney selling ABC News’ longtime headquarters as trouble looms for embattled TV stars, journalists," 13 June 2018
Hotels evaluate influencers on several criteria, trying to sift through an enormous amount of BS.

— taylor lorenz, The Atlantic, "Instagram Influencers Are Driving Luxury Hotels Crazy," 13 June 2018
Besides what’s presented at the Ace Hotel, an enormous amount of work rolls through the Music Center every year, and the addition of CalArts’ REDCAT 15 years ago in the Disney Hall complex opened a beachhead for experimentation.

— scott timberg, Los Angeles Magazine, "These Venues and Programmers Have Turned L.A. Into a World-Class Performing Arts Town," 13 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enormous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of enormous

Latin enormis, from e, ex out of + norma rule

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1531

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

enormous Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of enormous

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large. enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness.