Word
massively
Phoneticsmas·sive·ly
US/ˈmæsɪvɫi/
UK/mˈæsɪvli/
Definitions
01on a large scale
adv. in a way that is very large, powerful, or involves a lot of people.
adv. to a very great extent or degree, often referring to scale, impact, or physical size.
“The company has grown massively over the last three years, opening ten new offices.”
“The infrastructure project was massively over budget, leading to a public inquiry into the initial cost estimates.”
Synonyms
02very much
adv. extremely or very much; you use this to show you feel strongly about something.
adv. used as an intensifier to mean 'greatly' or 'extremely', particularly with verbs of liking or influence.
“I massively enjoyed the concert last night even though it was raining.”
“Her early experiences in the laboratory massively influenced her decision to pursue a career in organic chemistry.”
Informal
Usage
Commonly used to modify verbs like 'like', 'enjoy', or 'influence'.
Teaching tip
While common in spoken British English, students should avoid using this as a synonym for 'very' in formal academic essays.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Hie argues this has the potential to "massively improve human health" by developing new drugs and therapies.” “Parent Rosemary Randall, who has four children, said the charity had "massively supported" her family.” Etymology
From massive + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.