# monumental

/ˌmɑnjəˈmɛnəɫ/ (US) · /mˌɒnjuːmˈɛntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/monumental
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. large and impressive

adjective · CEFR B2

very large, grand, and impressive to look at.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. historically significant

adjective · CEFR B2

having great and lasting importance.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. requiring great effort

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

taking a huge amount of time, work, and effort to finish.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. relating to monuments

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

connected to or serving as a monument.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The task of rebuilding the city was monumental.
- Archaeologists discovered a monumental stone structure that changed our understanding of the ancient civilization's engineering skills.
- The decision to merge the two global corporations was a monumental shift in the industry, triggering a series of regulatory reviews across three continents.

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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.