massive
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.extremely large in size, amount, or degree.
adj.exceptionally large in scale, extent, or quantity.
Simple“The company spent a massive amount of money on the new advertising campaign.”
In context“The construction of the dam required a massive investment of both capital and labour, spanning over a decade of intensive engineering.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having great weight and a solid, strong shape.
adj.consisting of a large, heavy, and solid structure or mass.
Simple“The castle was protected by massive stone walls that were three metres thick.”
In context“The cathedral's roof is supported by massive oak beams, each carved from a single ancient tree trunk to ensure structural integrity.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.affecting a large part of the body or being very serious.
adj.affecting a significant area or being particularly severe in intensity.
Simple“He was rushed to the hospital after suffering a massive heart attack.”
In context“The patient presented with massive internal bleeding, necessitating an immediate surgical intervention to locate the source of the trauma.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
adj.very good or impressive.
adj.denoting exceptional quality or value; used as a positive intensifier.
Simple“We had a massive time at the concert last night.”
In context“The local fans thought the performance was absolutely massive, though the critics were somewhat more reserved in their praise.”
UsageCommon in Irish English and British youth slang.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
adj.having physical weight or mass.
adj.possessing rest mass; not massless.
Simple“Scientists study how massive particles move through space.”
In context“In the standard model of physics, the Higgs boson explains why certain fundamental particles are massive rather than massless.”
Antonymsmassless - 06 C1 Advanced
n.a group of people from the same area or with the same interests.
n.a collective group of people associated with a specific locality or subculture.
Simple“The DJ shouted out to the London massive during the set.”
In context“The festival attracted the jungle massive from across the country, filling the arena with dedicated followers of the genre.”
UsageOften used to refer to fans of a specific music genre or residents of a neighbourhood.
Usage massive drone · massive star · massive amounts
“On stage on their last tour, “I was flailing around on a massive gold bum and had, like, seven costume changes,” Smith says with a chuckle.”
“Those figures are expected to keep growing, which is why the government is proposing a massive reset.”
From Middle English massif, from Middle French massif, equivalent to mass + -ive. The Irish sense is possibly derived from Irish mas (“fine, handsome”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.