# colossal

/kəˈɫɑsəɫ/ (US) · /kəlˈɒsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/colossal
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. extremely large

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely large in size or amount.

For teachers: of enormous size, extent, or amount; often used to describe physical structures or abstract quantities like debt.

- The company suffered a colossal loss of money after the project failed.
- The archaeological team discovered the ruins of a colossal statue that must have dominated the city skyline for centuries.

### 2. spectacular or epic

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

amazingly impressive or great in scale.

For teachers: extraordinary or spectacular in nature; used to emphasize the epic quality of an event or achievement.

- The concert was a colossal success and everyone talked about it for weeks.
- The film was a colossal achievement in cinematography, pushing the boundaries of what digital effects could accomplish at the time.

## Examples

- The museum has a colossal statue at the entrance.
- The project was a colossal failure that cost the company millions of dollars and several years of work.
- The engineering team faced a colossal task in attempting to bridge the canyon, requiring innovative materials that could withstand the immense structural tension.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.