enormous
ih-NAW-muhs
Enormous (adj) means Extremely large in size, extent, or degree. Example: “The house has an enormous garden with room for a full-size football pitch.”
adj
1
Extremely large in size, extent, or degree.
"The enormous Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System."
"The house has an enormous garden with room for a full-size football pitch."
"She felt an enormous sense of relief when the test results came back clear."
"An enormous wave rolled toward the beach, and everyone stepped back."
"He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site."
— Margery Allingham, Foreword (1963)
How to use enormous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery, very big — in size, amount, or intensity.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
enormous amount
enormous pressure
enormous success
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more enormous
- Superlative
- most enormous
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The house has an _____ garden with room for a full-size football pitch.
Etymology
From Latin enormis, "irregular, huge," from ex- ("out of") + norma ("rule, standard").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for enormous
See all rhymes for enormous →Frequently asked questions
What does “enormous” mean?
The word “enormous” means extremely large in size, extent, or degree. In plain terms, very, very big — in size, amount, or intensity.
How do you pronounce “enormous”?
“Enormous” is pronounced ih-NAW-muhs (/ɪˈnoɹ.məs/ in IPA).
How do you use “enormous” in a sentence?
Here is “enormous” used in a sentence: “The house has an enormous garden with room for a full-size football pitch.”
What is another word for “enormous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “enormous” include huge, gigantic, humongous, massive and tremendous.
What is the opposite of “enormous”?
The opposite of “enormous” — its antonyms — is tiny.
What part of speech is “enormous”?
“Enormous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “enormous” come from?
The word “enormous” comes from Latin. From Latin enormis, "irregular, huge," from ex- ("out of") + norma ("rule, standard").
Is “enormous” a common word?
“Enormous” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "enormous" and "huge"?
Both mean extremely large in size, extent, or degree, and they are often interchangeable. "Enormous" tends to sound slightly more formal or emphatic, while "huge" is more casual and common in everyday speech. The difference is mainly one of tone rather than meaning.
What is the difference between "enormous" and "immense"?
Both describe something extremely large, but "immense" often stresses something so vast it is hard to measure or grasp, such as immense pressure or immense distances. "Enormous" more commonly describes concrete size, like an enormous building. The two frequently overlap.
Can "enormous" describe things that are not physical?
Yes. Besides physical size, "enormous" can describe extent or degree, as in enormous pressure, an enormous amount of work, or enormous relief. In these cases it emphasises how great something is rather than how big it is.
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