Word
terrific
Phoneticster·rif·ic, stress on the second syllable
US/tɝˈɪfɪk/
UK/təɹˈɪfɪk/
Definitions
01excellent
B1 · Intermediate
adj. very good, wonderful, or impressive.
adj. extremely good; used as an enthusiastic intensifier for quality.
日本語:すごい※
“You did a terrific job on the presentation and everyone was impressed.”
“The feedback from the client was terrific, specifically praising the team's ability to meet such a demanding schedule without compromising quality.”
Pitfall
The movie was terrific, I was so scared.
The movie was terrifying, I was so scared.
In modern English, 'terrific' means 'great'. If you want to say something causes fear, use 'terrifying'.
02intense
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. very great in amount, degree, or intensity.
adj. extraordinary in degree or intensity; used to emphasize the scale of a non-physical quality.
日本語:ものすごい※
Español:terrífico
“The engine was making a terrific noise as the car sped down the road.”
“The project was completed under terrific pressure, yet the final results exceeded the board's most optimistic projections.”
Synonyms
03causing terror
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. causing great fear or terror.
adj. causing great fear or dread; the original etymological sense related to 'terror'.
Español:terrífico
“The terrific roar of the storm shook the very foundations of the old house.”
“In the gothic novel, the protagonist faces a terrific apparition that haunts the castle's highest battlements.”
Teaching tip
Modern speakers almost never use this sense; it is found primarily in 18th and 19th-century literature.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “terrific” in context.
Verb
01. do a terrific job
“The marketing team did a terrific job on the new campaign, exceeding all our targets.”
verb + adj + noun
02. look terrific in the dress
“She looked terrific in the red dress she wore to the gala last night.”
verb + adj + prep + noun
03. make a terrific impact
“The new scholarship program has made a terrific impact on student retention rates.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. absolutely terrific
“The performance was absolutely terrific, and the audience gave a standing ovation.”
adv + adj
05. terrific news for the company
“The merger is terrific news for the company and its shareholders.”
adj + noun + prep + noun
Noun
06. terrific pace of change
“The industry is evolving at a terrific pace of change, making it hard to keep up.”
adj + noun + of + noun
07. terrific sense of humor
“One of the things I love about him is his terrific sense of humor.”
adj + noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“But I was stunned that this solipsistic mess opens the book, because Gilbert is a terrific storyteller – Eat Pray Love , her memoir of self-acceptance and healing, was read by millions.” “His goals were terrific, his play was great.” Etymology
From French terrifique, and its source, Latin terrificus (“terrifying”), from terrēre (“to frighten, terrify”) + -ficus, related to facere (“to make”). By surface analysis, terrify + -ic. The sense of excellent or amazing is an ameliorative semantic shift from the original sense of terrifying. Compare similar semantic development in sick and wicked.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/terrific
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0