immense

[ ih-mens ]

adjective

1. vast; huge; very great:

   an immense territory.

   Synonyms: extensive

2. immeasurable; boundless.
3. Informal. splendid:

   You did an immense job getting the project started.

immense

/ ɪˈmɛns /

adjective

1. unusually large; huge; vast
2. without limits; immeasurable
3. informal.
   very good; excellent

Derived Forms

• imˈmenseness, noun
• imˈmensely, adverb

Other Words From

• im·mense·ly adverb
• im·mense·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of immense¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin immēnsus “huge, boundless, immeasurable,” equivalent to im- “un-” + mēnsus, past participle of mētīrī “to measure”; im- ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of immense¹

C15: from Latin immensus, literally: unmeasured, from im- (not) + mensus measured, from mētīrī to measure

Synonym Study

See huge.

Example Sentences

“I’m seeing immense frustration and fear that they’re going to be left behind,” Bloomgarden says.

From MIT Technology Review

It takes an immense amount of resources, and personnel talent, to optimize the algorithm running those platforms based on the company’s key performance indicators, or KPIs.

From TechCrunch

The ecosystem is immense, and so are the probabilities some stakeholders employ questionable practices.

From Digiday

The country’s fragile push for democracy has always centered around Suu Kyi’s immense popularity.

From Time

His commitment to journalism and the basketball community was immense and we will miss his warm, engaging personality.

From Washington Post

He was a scion of immense wealth, a civil rights activist, and an art collector and patron.

From The Daily Beast

The agents in charge were under immense pressure to make headway in the case.

From The Daily Beast

Two years ago, however, Nancy became ill with a post-surgical infection that caused her immense pain.

From The Daily Beast

This fact is hidden from the helpers, whose intercessions bring them immense satisfaction.

From The Daily Beast

Singer argues that eating meat is almost always wrong, due to the immense amount of suffering caused by factory farming.

From The Daily Beast

But what a magnificent plain is this we are entering upon: it is of immense extent.

From Project Gutenberg

But Polavieja started his campaign with the immense advantage of having the whole of the dry season before him.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw with evident pleasure the outward and visible signs of the old earl's immense wealth.

From Project Gutenberg

The foreman's immense voice, explaining machines and tools, caused physical vibrations in her.

From Project Gutenberg

How on earth can Jack find time to think about women with the immense amount of work he gets through?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boundless
• colossal
• endless
• enormous
• extensive
• gigantic
• great
• huge
• immeasurable
• infinite
• limitless
• mammoth
• massive
• monstrous
• monumental
• prodigious
• tremendous
• vast