Word
ubiquitous
Phoneticsubiq·ui·tous
US/juˈbɪkwɪtəs/
UK/juːbˈɪkwɪtəs/
Definition
adj. appearing or existing everywhere at the same time.
adj. existing or being everywhere at the same time; omnipresent. Often used to describe the pervasive nature of modern technology or global brands.
Examples
“Mobile phones are now ubiquitous in modern society.”
“The company's logo became ubiquitous after the massive advertising campaign, appearing on billboards, buses, and screens everywhere.”
“Despite its ubiquitous presence in modern diets, refined sugar was once a rare luxury reserved for the wealthiest segments of society.”
Examples
simple
“Mobile phones are now ubiquitous in modern society.”
contextual
“The company's logo became ubiquitous after the massive advertising campaign, appearing on billboards, buses, and screens everywhere.”
complex
“Despite its ubiquitous presence in modern diets, refined sugar was once a rare luxury reserved for the wealthiest segments of society.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ubiquitous” in context.
Verb
01. become ubiquitous
“Plastic packaging has become ubiquitous in the grocery industry over the last few decades.”
verb + adj
02. render something ubiquitous
“Mass production techniques rendered smartphones ubiquitous within just a few years.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
03. ubiquitous nature of technology
“The ubiquitous nature of technology means that we are rarely truly disconnected from work.”
adj + noun + of + noun
04. ubiquitous presence
“The brand maintained a ubiquitous presence through aggressive social media advertising.”
adj + noun
Adverb
05. increasingly ubiquitous
“Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our daily interactions with technology.”
adv + adj
06. virtually ubiquitous
“In modern urban environments, high-speed internet access has become virtually ubiquitous.”
adv + adj
Usage
Usually placed before a noun or after a linking verb like 'become' or 'be'.
Teaching tip
While the literal meaning is 'everywhere at once', it is most commonly used to describe things that are so common they are hard to avoid.
Real-World Examples
“What began as an inside joke became one of the most ubiquitous pieces of modern music, calming countless callers across the planet.” “Now, a team led by David Kuridze and Friedrich Wöger of the National Solar Observatory reports that Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities are not just visible on the Sun, but they’re ubiquitous.” Etymology
From ubiquity + -ous, from Medieval Latin ubīquitās, from Latin ubīque (“everywhere”), from ubī̆ (“where”) + -que (“each, ever”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 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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- Academic, Formal
QR code
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