immense

im·mense | \ i-ˈmen(t)s

Definition of immense

1 : marked by greatness especially in size or degree especially : transcending ordinary means of measurement the immense universe

2 : supremely good

Other Words from immense Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about immense

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Choose the Right Synonym for immense

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

Did You Know?

Just how big is something if it is immense? Huge? Colossal? Humongous? Ginormous? Or merely enormous? "Immense" is often used as a synonym of all of the above and, as such, can simply function as yet another way for English speakers to say "really, really, really big." "Immense" is also used, however, in a sense which goes beyond merely really, really, really big to describe something that is so great in size or degree that it transcends ordinary means of measurement. This sense harks back to the original sense of "immense" as something which is so tremendously big that it has not or cannot be measured. This sense reflects the word's roots in the Latin immensus, from "in-" ("un-") and "mensus," the past participle of "metiri" ("to measure").

Examples of immense in a Sentence

He inherited an immense fortune. She is an artist of immense talent.

Recent Examples on the Web The law is tool of immense, albeit unfulfilled potential. — Jeanne Houck, Cincinnati.com, "YWCA Greater Cincinnati names 2020 Career Women of Achievement," 12 Mar. 2020 As a result, baseball’s economic impact on our cities is immense and, in many places, irreplaceable. — Steve Benjamin, Fortune, "Mayors: Why gutting minor league baseball would be disastrous for our cities," 4 Feb. 2020 The littlenesses of the entries, piled high, do amount to something immense. — Merve Emre, The New York Review of Books, "Private Parts of Speech," 10 Mar. 2020 This second world war of the twentieth century, Marshall understood, was going to be immense and immensely destructive. — Jeff Sharlet, Harpers Magazine, "March 2020," 2 Mar. 2020 The modern American oil industry traces its origin to the summer of 1859 when Edwin Drake’s 70-foot well found an immense deposit of oil in Titusville, Pa. — Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, "‘Anointed With Oil’ Review: The Crude Versus the Refined," 28 Feb. 2020 Well, now's the chance to prove your fandom and show off your immense Disney knowledge. — Ariel Nagi, Seventeen, "Only True Fans Can Ace This Ultimate Disney Trivia Quiz," 27 Feb. 2020 Alex karev has been here since S01 & he has shown immense growth. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "'Grey's Anatomy' Fans Urge Writers to Stop Making "a Disgrace" of Alex Karev's Character," 21 Feb. 2020 There remains an immense amount of information in the world that is easiest to access by phone. — Robinson Meyer, The Atlantic, "Phones Are the Best Technology," 4 Feb. 2020

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