immense

adjective

im·mense i-ˈmen(t)s

Synonyms of immense next

: marked by greatness especially in size or degree

especially : transcending ordinary means of measurement

the immense universe

: supremely good

immenseness noun

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Just how big is something if it is immense? Huge? Colossal? Humongous? Ginormous? Or merely enormous? Immense is often used as a synonym of all of the above and, as such, can simply function as yet another way for English speakers to say "really, really, really big." But immense is also used in a sense which goes beyond merely really, really, really big to describe something that is so great in size or degree that it transcends ordinary means of measurement. This sense harks back to the original sense of immense for something which is so tremendously big (such as, say, the universe) that it has not been or cannot be measured. This sense reflects the word's roots in the Latin immensus, from in- ("un-") and mensus, the past participle of metiri, "to measure."

Choose the Right Synonym for immense

enormous, immense, huge, vast, gigantic, colossal, mammoth mean exceedingly large.

enormous and immense both suggest an exceeding of all ordinary bounds in size or amount or degree, but enormous often adds an implication of abnormality or monstrousness.

an enormous expense

an immense shopping mall

huge commonly suggests an immensity of bulk or amount.

incurred a huge debt

vast usually suggests immensity of extent.

the vast Russian steppes

gigantic stresses the contrast with the size of others of the same kind.

a gigantic sports stadium

colossal applies especially to a human creation of stupendous or incredible dimensions.

a colossal statue of Lincoln

mammoth suggests both hugeness and ponderousness of bulk.

a mammoth boulder

Examples of immense in a Sentence

He inherited an immense fortune. She is an artist of immense talent.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. —

Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 Barely a few days into his second term, President Trump has already sought to implement what has been deemed to be a harmful, racist, anti-immigrant agenda with executive actions that fly in the face of human rights and duplicate prior policies that resulted in immense violence and harm. —

Amy Fischer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025 The strain and frustration, both physical and mental, must be immense. —

Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025 Between the assassination in Sarajevo, the mass slaughter in the trenches, and the stagnant front lines lie disproportions so immense that cause and effect lose all relation. —

George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for immense

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin immensus immeasurable, from in- + mensus, past participle of metiri to measure — more at measure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of immense was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Immense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immense. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

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Kids Definition

immense

adjective

im·mense im-ˈen(t)s

: very great in size or amount

especially : not capable of being measured by ordinary means

the immense universe

immensely adverb

immenseness noun

Etymology

from early French immense "immense, huge," from Latin immensus "boundless, too great to be measured," from im-, in- "not" and mensus, past participle of metiri "to measure" — related to dimension, measure

Last Updated: 10 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

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immense

adjective

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Synonyms

Examples of immense in a Sentence

Word History

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Dictionary Entries Near immense

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Kids Definition