# enormous

/iˈnɔɹməs/ (US) · /ɪnˈɔːməs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enormous
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. extremely large

adjective · CEFR A2

extremely large in size, amount, or degree.

For teachers: exceeding the common size, extent, or amount; extremely large or vast.

- The new stadium is enormous and can hold over eighty thousand people.
- The company faced an enormous challenge when the global supply chain was disrupted, forcing them to find new suppliers within weeks.

Usage: As an extreme adjective, it is typically modified by 'absolutely' rather than 'very'.

Teaching tip: While the word has historical roots meaning 'wicked' or 'outside the norm', modern usage is strictly limited to size and scale.

## Examples

- The house has an enormous garden.
- The project was an enormous success, bringing in more revenue than the company had ever seen before.
- Despite the enormous pressure from the board of directors, the CEO refused to compromise on the long-term sustainability goals of the organization.

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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.