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Synonyms

cavern

American  
[kav-ern] / ˈkæv ərn /

noun

  1. a cave, especially one that is large and mostly underground.

  2. Pathology. a cavity that is produced by disease, especially one produced in the lungs by tuberculosis.

verb (used with object)

  1. to enclose in or as if in a cavern.

  2. to hollow out to form a cavern.

cavern British  
/ ˈkævən /

noun

  1. a cave, esp when large and formed by underground water, or a large chamber in a cave

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to shut in or as if in a cavern

  2. to hollow out

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
cavern Scientific  
/ kăv′ərn /

  1. A large cave.

Etymology

Origin of cavern

1325–75; Middle English caverne < Latin caverna, equivalent to cav ( us ) hollow + -erna, as in cisterna cistern

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Located at the base of a 100-foot water drainage pipe, the sprawling secret cavern also contained a home gym, armchair and television.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

Over the next two years, starting in January, a team will excavate the cavern by removing rock and soil.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2024

As we make our way into the vast cavern, my guide explains how Eberhard dissected samples and sent them to England for analysis.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2024

“Pouring concrete into a cavern, directly into the aquifer, without any concern or care,” D. Christy said.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2024

Nathan walked out of the crystal cavern and into the ice hall.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.