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

Guthrie would later express dissatisfaction with Watts-Russell’s dry production on Garlands, and the band’s Roland TR-808 drum machine sounds less stylish without the cavernous reverb that would become a signature of every subsequent release. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 12 May 2026

The remarks at North Javits Center, a cavernous new event hall along New York’s Hudson River, followed a brief introduction by Anne Hathaway. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 12 May 2026

More buttons fold the seats flat, either individually or all together, creating a cavernous lay-flat cargo area. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 11 May 2026

By way of comparison, the 1979 Astros, playing in the cavernous Astrodome, hit 55. —Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026

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