adjective
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unusually large; huge; vast
-
without limits; immeasurable
-
informal very good; excellent
Related Words
See huge.
Other Word Forms
- immensely adverb
- immenseness noun
Etymology
Origin of immense
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”; see im- 2
Explanation
Immense means very large in size, amount, or degree. You might describe the ocean as immense, or your homework load, or the slice of cake your brother took, leaving you a tiny sliver. This word has an immense number of near synonyms: huge, great, enormous, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth, copious, tremendous are a few of the more common ones. If you're having immense difficulty deciding which word to use, just plain "very big" might do.
Vocabulary lists containing immense
List 4
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"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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myPerspectives 8.1
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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.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” isn’t a happy accident; it’s a vital reminder of the immense value of human art and creativity, exemplified by this movie’s prudence.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
The league incurred immense costs through tournament hosting fees and lucrative payouts to attract top-tier players like Rahm and DeChambeau.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026
Because chip companies will pay almost anything to prevent a multimillion-dollar factory shutdown, distributors hold immense pricing power.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
"We meet in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges," he told the chamber, filled with US lawmakers.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
It was exquisite, immense, and I was in it, completely alone.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
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.
