# terrific

/tɝˈɪfɪk/ (US) · /təɹˈɪfɪk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. excellent

adjective · CEFR B1

very good, wonderful, or impressive.

For teachers: extremely good; used as an enthusiastic intensifier for quality.

- 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.

### 2. intense

adjective · CEFR B2

very great in amount, degree, or intensity.

For teachers: extraordinary in degree or intensity; used to emphasize the scale of a non-physical quality.

- 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.

### 3. causing terror

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

causing great fear or terror.

For teachers: causing great fear or dread; the original etymological sense related to 'terror'.

- 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.

## Examples

- You did a terrific job on the presentation.
- The local bakery has a terrific selection of fresh bread every morning.
- The team's performance was truly terrific, demonstrating a level of coordination and skill that far exceeded the expectations of the coaching staff.

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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.