voluminous
Americanadjective
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forming, filling, or writing a large volume or many volumes.
a voluminous edition.
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sufficient to fill a volume or volumes.
a voluminous correspondence.
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of great volume, size, or extent.
voluminous flow of lava.
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of ample size, extent, or fullness.
voluminous petticoats.
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having many coils, convolutions, or windings.
adjective
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of great size, quantity, volume, or extent
-
(of writing) consisting of or sufficient to fill volumes
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prolific in writing or speech
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obsolete winding
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of voluminous
1605–15; < Late Latin volūminōsus full of folds, equivalent to Latin volūmin- (stem of volūmen ) volume + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Consider that volume is a measure of size. That will help you understand that voluminous refers to something very large in size or extent. Suppose instead of calling a book a book, you called it a volume. Suddenly, it seems to be part of a much bigger thing. And what if it were only Volume I, with 23 more volumes to go? Even bigger, right? In fact, it's more than big; it’s voluminous. Voluminous describes very large things. The flouncy skirt of a wedding dress? Voluminous. Media coverage of some movie star's divorce? Also voluminous. The word voluminous describes something ample, extensive, and just plain huge.
Vocabulary lists containing voluminous
"The Bells" by Edgar Allan Poe
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The House of the Scorpion
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
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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.
She burrowed deep in the recesses of the early Obama administration, welding together the voluminous Affordable Care Act.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
American star Kylie Jenner closed the show, draped in a voluminous black dress.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
FBI agents had collected voluminous corporate records and email correspondence between Navatek and Collins’ inner circle.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
In Salzburg, Dudamel indulged the Vienna Philharmonic’s incomparable lushness, those plush strings, glowing winds, golden brass, voluminous timpani.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Dimple couldn’t resist rolling her eyes at the voluminous salwar kameez Mamma was holding up.
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
