massive
MAS-ihv
Massive (adjective) means Extremely large in size, extent, or degree. Example: “The company posted a massive profit last quarter.”
adjective
1
Extremely large in size, extent, or degree.
"The company posted a massive profit last quarter."
"A massive oak tree shaded the entire garden."
"There was a massive queue outside the shop on the first morning of the sale."
2
Solid, bulky, and heavy in construction.
"The castle walls were massive, built to withstand siege weapons."
"The old bank had a massive iron door that took two people to open."
"He sat down at a massive wooden table carved from a single tree."
3
Serious or severe, especially describing something affecting the body.
"He suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep."
"The patient suffered massive blood loss and needed treatment straight away."
"A massive stroke left her unable to speak for several weeks."
How to use massive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHuge — in size, weight, seriousness, or impact.
Common pairings
massive scale
massive amount
massive heart attack
massive turnout
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Word forms
- Plural
- massives
- Comparative
- more massive
- Superlative
- most massive
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The company posted a _____ profit last quarter.
Etymology
From Middle English massif, via Middle French, built from mass plus the adjective ending -ive.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for massive
See all rhymes for massive →Frequently asked questions
What does “massive” mean?
The word “massive” means extremely large in size, extent, or degree. In plain terms, huge — in size, weight, seriousness, or impact.
How do you pronounce “massive”?
“Massive” is pronounced MAS-ihv (/ˈmæs.ɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “massive” in a sentence?
Here is “massive” used in a sentence: “The company posted a massive profit last quarter.”
What is another word for “massive”?
Words with a similar meaning to “massive” include bulky, heavy, hefty, substantial, weighty and consequential.
What is the opposite of “massive”?
The opposite of “massive” — its antonyms — are insubstantial, light, dwarf, little and microscopic.
What part of speech is “massive”?
“Massive” is an adjective.
Where does the word “massive” come from?
The word “massive” comes from Middle French. From Middle English massif, via Middle French, built from mass plus the adjective ending -ive.
Is “massive” a common word?
“Massive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between massive and huge?
Both mean very large and are often interchangeable. "Massive" suggests great bulk, weight, or solidity as well as size — a massive boulder, a massive effort. "Huge" emphasizes sheer size or amount. "Massive" can feel slightly stronger and is also popular as informal praise, as in "a massive hit."
Is massive formal or informal?
In its literal sense — massive walls, a massive structure — it is standard in all writing. Used as an intensifier meaning great, as in "a massive thank you" or "massively popular," it is more informal and conversational. In British slang, "massive" can even mean excellent. Context decides how casual it sounds.
What is an example of massive?
You might describe a massive mountain, a massive traffic jam, or a massive increase in prices. The word applies to physical bulk, as in a massive oak door, to scale, as in massive crowds, and to degree, as in a massive improvement. It stresses being overwhelmingly large.
What is the opposite of massive?
The opposite of massive is "tiny," "minuscule," or "slight." For physical objects you might say "small" or "lightweight"; for amounts or degrees, "minimal" or "negligible." Where massive stresses great size or weight, these words stress smallness or insignificance.
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