Word
prodigious
Phoneticsprodi·gious
US/pɹəˈdɪdʒəs/
UK/pɹədˈɪdʒəs/
Definition
adj. extremely large or great. You use this to describe something that is much bigger or more intense than usual.
adj. extremely large in size, amount, or degree. Often used to describe natural talents or physical abilities that are far above average.
Examples
“The athlete showed prodigious talent from a very young age.”
“The company achieved prodigious growth during the first year of its expansion into international markets.”
“The historian noted the prodigious scale of the ancient library, which reportedly contained thousands of scrolls that had survived the centuries.”
Examples
simple
“The athlete showed prodigious talent from a very young age.”
contextual
“The company achieved prodigious growth during the first year of its expansion into international markets.”
complex
“The historian noted the prodigious scale of the ancient library, which reportedly contained thousands of scrolls that had survived the centuries.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prodigious” in context.
Real-World Examples
“In recent weeks, other elements of his life story were increasingly questioned , including claims of prodigious money-raising for charity and feats of long-distance running.” “And the man hits such a speed we realise why he did not learn this script: it would be too prodigious a feat of memory.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *pró Proto-Indo-European *pro- Proto-Italic *pro- Latin prō- Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵ-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁ǵyéti Proto-Italic *agjō Latin aiō Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ium Latin prōdigium Proto-Indo-European *h₃ed-der. Proto-Indo-European *-h₃d-s-o-? Latin -ōsus Latin prōdigiōsusbor. Middle English prodigious English prodigious The adjective is derived from Late Middle English prodigious (“warning of disaster, portentous”), from Latin prōdigiōsus (“strange, unnatural; marvellous, wonderful, prodigious”), from prōdigium (“prophetic sign, omen, portent; prodigy, wonder”) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of’ forming adjectives from nouns). Prōdigium is derived from prō- (prefix denoting a forward direction, something before or prior, or prominence) + aiō (“to say, speak”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eǵ- (“to say”)) + -ium (suffix forming abstract nouns). The English word is analysable as prodigy + -ous. The adverb is derived from the adjective. Cognates * Catalan prodigiós * Middle French prodigieux (“portentous”) (modern French prodigieux) * Italian prodigioso * Portuguese prodigioso * Spanish prodigioso
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prodigious