B2adjective 2K

Massive

UK //ˈmæsɪv// US //ˈmæsɪv// Pronunciation

Definition

Very large in size or amount.

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Examples

• The massive building towered over the city skyline.
• She has a massive collection of books in her library.
• The massive waves crashed against the shore during the storm.
• He received a massive amount of support from his friends.
• They made a massive mistake by not checking the facts.
• The massive crowd gathered for the concert.

Usage notes

Use 'massive' in both spoken and written contexts to emphasize size or significance. Avoid using it in overly formal situations.

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Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'mass' and relate it to something very big.

Collocations

• massive increase
• massive success
• massive undertaking

Synonyms

• enormous
• huge
• gigantic
• colossal
• vast

Antonyms

• tiny
• small
• insignificant

Common mistakes

• Confusing 'massive' with 'heavy', which refers to weight, not size.
• Using 'massive' to describe small things.
• Omitting the context; it’s more effective when specifying what is massive.