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
-
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
Derived 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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100 SAT Words Beginning with "V"
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The House of the Scorpion
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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.
Voluminous evidence in the form of messages, videos and social media posts, along with a long list of potential witnesses, means that the trial is likely to last at least six weeks.
From BBC • Jan. 9, 2023
Voluminous interceptions do not necessarily portend disaster for a Rams team trying to become the first in the NFL to repeat as Super Bowl champion since the 2004 New England Patriots.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 21, 2022
Voluminous records, including technical reports and interview transcripts, are due to be released by the board.
From Washington Post • Jun. 20, 2015
Voluminous media coverage followed, peaking with a trip to the Today show.
From Slate • Apr. 21, 2015
Voluminous collections of the papers used by Bowring are at University College, and at the British Museum.
From The English Utilitarians, Volume I. by Stephen, Leslie, Sir
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.
