ENGLISH
REFERENCE

astronomical

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌæstɹəˈnɑmɪkəɫ// UK //ɐstɹənˈɒmɪkəl// as·tro·nom·i·cal

adj. extremely large in amount or size. You use it to describe numbers or costs that are surprisingly high.

adj. extremely large in amount, scale, or degree; often used hyperbolically to emphasize magnitude.


SIMPLE

The repair costs were astronomical.

CONTEXTUAL

The company faced astronomical debts after the market crash.

COMPLEX

The astronomical distances between stars make direct travel impossible with current technology.

Synonyms
Origin

Attested since at least 1550, from Middle French astronomique or directly from Latin astronomicus, from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομικός (astronomikós).

© 2026 English Reference