enormous

adjective

enor·​mous i-ˈnȯr-məs How to pronounce enormous (audio)
ē-
1
: marked by extraordinarily great size, number, or degree
especially : exceeding usual bounds or accepted notions
2
a
: exceedingly wicked : shocking
an enormous sin
b
archaic : abnormal, inordinate
enormousness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

an enormous expense
an immense shopping mall

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

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 on the Web In other cases, local factors, such as how wet or dry the ground is or an area’s basic topography, can have enormous influences on how floods develop — and their consequences. Denise Chow, NBC News, 12 Sep. 2023 Marino honored Peninsula must-haves, like enormous walk-in dressing rooms with full sartorial knickknacks—who doesn’t need a shoehorn? Linda Laban, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2023 And that’s all aside from the enormous carbon footprint attached to these models. Sage Lazzaro, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2023 In an age of mass extinction, people are going to enormous lengths to put species back into place. Dino Grandoni and Melina Mara, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2023 Jorge Luis Borges reviewed imaginary books to overcome the enormous weight of the forebears who obsessed him. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023 Of course, the Steelers got an enormous break of their own in the matchup with Browns two-time All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin suffering a torn ACL and MCL in the Sunday’s 24-3 victory over the Bengals. cleveland, 11 Sep. 2023 The canoe is now in Oahu, where it is being repainted and fitted with an enormous new flag. Karin Brulliard, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2023 Musk sees enormous untapped potential in the world of romance fiction, in part because of the invention of digital reading devices, or ebook readers. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 11 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enormous.' 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

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

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler
The first known use of enormous was in 1531

Dictionary Entries Near enormous

Cite this Entry

“Enormous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enormous. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

enormous

adjective
enor·​mous i-ˈnȯr-məs How to pronounce enormous (audio)
: extraordinarily great in size, number, or degree
enormously adverb
enormousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on enormous

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