Word
monumental
Phoneticsmon·u·men·tal, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌmɑnjəˈmɛnəɫ/
UK/mˌɒnjuːmˈɛntəl/
Definitions
01large and impressive
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very large, grand, and impressive to look at.
adj. characterised by imposing size, grandeur, or scale.
“The city is famous for its monumental stone arches and wide streets.”
“The architect's vision was realised in a monumental structure that dominated the skyline, blending classical proportions with modern materials.”
Antonyms
02historically significant
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having great and lasting importance.
adj. of outstanding significance or historical importance.
“The discovery of the new vaccine was a monumental moment in medicine.”
“The signing of the peace treaty was a monumental achievement that ended decades of systemic conflict in the region.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03requiring great effort
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. taking a huge amount of time, work, and effort to finish.
adj. requiring or showing an immense expenditure of effort and persistence.
“Writing the three-volume history book was a monumental task.”
“Compiling the national archive proved to be a monumental undertaking that required the coordination of hundreds of researchers over a decade.”
04relating to monuments
C1 · Advanced Archaeology Technical
adj. connected to or serving as a monument.
adj. pertaining to, or serving as, a monument or memorial.
“The museum has a collection of monumental inscriptions from ancient Rome.”
“The site is notable for its monumental brasses, which provide detailed genealogical information about the local nobility of the fourteenth century.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Chelsea were creative and Lauren James was at her free-flowing best, but they could not convert their many chances, and the new Villa goalkeeper Akane Okuma’s monumental performance was a big part of that.” “One user of the Yellows Forum called it a “monumental cock-up that I would expect to be sacked for if I’d signed off on it”.” “Though a monumental task, Davison says that they caught a break.” Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin monumentālis, from Latin monumentum; equivalent to monument + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/monumental