massive
adjective
consisting of or forming a large mass; bulky and heavy.
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massiven.
massive
1 American
[mas-iv]
/ ˈmæs ɪv /
adjective
-
consisting of or forming a large mass; bulky and heavy.
massive columns.
-
large and heavy-looking.
a massive forehead.
-
large in scale, amount, or degree.
a massive breakdown in communications;
massive reductions in spending.
-
solid or substantial; great or imposing.
massive erudition.
-
Mineralogy. having no outward crystal form, although sometimes crystalline in internal structure.
Massive
2
American
[mas-iv]
/ ˈmæs ɪv /
noun
massive
British
/ ˈmæsɪv /
adjective
-
(of objects) large in mass; bulky, heavy, and usually solid
-
impressive or imposing in quality, degree, or scope
massive grief
-
relatively intensive or large; considerable
a massive dose
-
pathol affecting a large area of the body
a massive cancer
-
geology
-
(of igneous rocks) having no stratification, cleavage, etc; homogeneous
-
(of sedimentary rocks) arranged in thick poorly defined strata
-
-
mineralogy without obvious crystalline structure
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of massive
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English ( see mass, -ive); replacing Middle English massif, from Middle French
Explanation
Massive means enormous. Obviously, Mt. Everest is massive, but a massive budget cut isn't necessarily big in physical mass; it's something that is imposing in scale or power. A massive budget cut can do a lot of damage. Unless someone is referring to your intellect, massive is not a word you want used in a description of your attributes. Massive is a nice one to trot out when huge, gigantic, and enormous sound too over-the-top. Politicians use it often. Massive could also be the best way to describe the wave you surfed on your Hawaiian vacation or the size of the fish you nearly caught on that trip with your friends.
Vocabulary lists containing massive
Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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Number the Stars
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100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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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.
See Examples For:
Gov. Jerry Brown oversaw massive reductions in California’s prison population in the 2010s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
“I don’t think specific exemptions address the massive gray areas that arise in pregnancy,” she said.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
But the Longhorns turned their massive deficit on the scoreboard into a massive advantage in terms of play-calling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
Paris City Hall organised a massive karaoke event on Friday night, attended by thousands, to celebrate Dion's return to the stage.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
Paulson, too, had heard Greg Lippmann’s pitch—and, as he built a massive position in credit default swaps, used Lippmann as his sounding board.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Massive crowds turned out to fete and celebrate Lafayette throughout his 13-month tour.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Massive teams of engineers and scientists — including personnel from Caltech and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory — have worked for over a decade to develop the $4.3-billion telescope.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026
Massive pieces of floating ice can remain intact for years as they drift, then gradually fracture into smaller sections that may become difficult to track.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026
Massive investment in infrastructure, coupled with policy incentives to attract data centre builders, have earned Guizhou one of the highest debt burdens in the country.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Massive hotels, with up to 250 rooms, sprang up in every glen.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
