terrific
tuh-RIH-fihk
Terrific (adj) means Excellent; wonderful. Example: “They did a terrific job organizing the event.”
adj
1
Excellent; wonderful.
"They did a terrific job organizing the event."
"It's a terrific view from up here."
"We had a terrific holiday by the sea last summer."
2
Very great in force or intensity.
"The car hit the wall with terrific force."
"A terrific gust of wind blew the garden gate off its hinges."
"The crowd roared with terrific noise when the team scored."
How to use terrific
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUsually means "excellent" today, though it originally meant "terrifying."
Common mistake
In modern English "terrific" is almost always positive ("a terrific meal") — don't assume it means frightening.
Common pairings
terrific news
a terrific job
terrific force
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like terrific.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more terrific
- Superlative
- most terrific
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They did a _____ job organizing the event.
Etymology
From Latin terrificus, "causing terror," from terrere, "to frighten" — the modern positive meaning developed later, much like "sick" and "wicked" also shifted to mean "great."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for terrific
See all rhymes for terrific →Frequently asked questions
What does “terrific” mean?
The word “terrific” means excellent; wonderful. In plain terms, usually means "excellent" today, though it originally meant "terrifying.".
How do you pronounce “terrific”?
“Terrific” is pronounced tuh-RIH-fihk (/təˈɹɪfɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “terrific” in a sentence?
Here is “terrific” used in a sentence: “They did a terrific job organizing the event.”
What is another word for “terrific”?
Words with a similar meaning to “terrific” include brilliant and horrific.
What part of speech is “terrific”?
“Terrific” is an adjective.
Where does the word “terrific” come from?
The word “terrific” comes from Latin. From Latin terrificus, "causing terror," from terrere, "to frighten" — the modern positive meaning developed later, much like "sick" and "wicked" also shifted to mean "great.".
Is “terrific” a common word?
“Terrific” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “terrific” have?
“Terrific” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: excellent; wonderful.
What is the difference between terrific and terrible?
Terrific usually means excellent or wonderful, while terrible means very bad. Although both words share an old root connected to terror, terrific has shifted to a mainly positive sense in everyday use, whereas terrible has stayed negative.
Can terrific be used in a negative or neutral way?
Yes. Besides meaning excellent, terrific can describe something very great in force or intensity, as in a terrific storm or a terrific bang. In this sense it is neutral or even alarming rather than a compliment.
What is the difference between terrific and horrific?
Terrific most often means excellent or wonderful, whereas horrific means causing horror, shock, or disgust. They should not be confused, even though both can describe something extreme in scale or intensity.
Is terrific formal or informal?
In its excellent sense, terrific is informal and enthusiastic, common in casual praise such as a terrific idea or a terrific job. It suits conversation and friendly writing more than formal reports.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include terrific:
