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.
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
A mystical aura filled the heat-wave-sweaty Kollegienkirche, a voluminous central Salzburg church.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Plaintiff lawyer Ashley Keller said, “The Court of Appeals agreed that our experts’ analyses of the voluminous research linking prenatal acetaminophen exposure to neurodevelopmental disorders is reliable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Triumphantly Matt pulled a thick wad of bread from the voluminous pocket of his baggy shorts.
From "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry
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.
