monumental
Americanadjective
-
like a monument, esp in large size, endurance, or importance
a monumental work of art
-
of, relating to, or being a monument
-
informal (intensifier)
monumental stupidity
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of monumental
From the Late Latin word monumentālis, dating back to 1595–1605. See monument, -al 1
Explanation
Whether it's a monumental effort requiring vast amounts of strength or a monumental cruise ship with eleven floors and five sets of elevators, the word monumental describes something imposing or massive in size. Monumental can also refer to something that's of outstanding importance or significance. A monumental decision for you would be one that changes your life — like the day you got engaged or when you decided to move to New York to be an actor. The word monumental can also be used if you're talking about a monument, a statue or structure commemorating a person or event. You might admire the monumental stonework on the statue in the town square.
Vocabulary lists containing monumental
The Maze Runner
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Stargirl
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Living Large: Synonyms for "Big"
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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 match will be a monumental moment in the JDT's history and for Malaysian football as a whole.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
"People come here ... in search of faith," visitor Marek Gizinski told AFP, calling it "something monumental".
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
The fire also left the company with the monumental task of removing approximately 85 million pounds of food, including meat, that had been kept inside the cold-storage warehouse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
His extended absence from filmmaking was necessitated by Adrian’s death in 2016 and the monumental torrent of confusion and emotional displacement that followed.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Archaeologists are familiar with such monumental structures from sites around the world—the best-known example is Stonehenge in Britain.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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.
