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

Other Word Forms

• immensely adverb
• immenseness 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

The light touch of a tailor’s hand makes it so that the clothes they create and adjust seem casually perfect, despite the immense amount of labor.

From Los Angeles Times

In both “Beetlejuice” films, the central characters are confronted with problems too immense to be solved through solitary effort.

From Salon

"We owe him, as the Labour movement in Scotland, an immense debt of gratitude," he said.

From BBC

Anisimova's US Open run has been an immense show of character and resilience.

From BBC

The health minister said Jennifer Welsh's appointment came at a time of "immense challenge and opportunity".

From BBC

Related Words

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