Remarkable vs Tremendous
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Remarkable
Tremendous
| Remarkable | Tremendous | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmɑːkəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmɑːrkəbl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/trəˈmendəs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/trəˈmendəs/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very special or unusual, worth noticing. | Very great in amount, size, or intensity. |
| Example | The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever. | a tremendous explosion |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | be, seem, absolutely, just, most, for | tremendous success, tremendous impact, tremendous effort, tremendous amount, tremendous talent |
| Antonyms | ordinary, unremarkable, mundane | tiny, insignificant, small |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'remarkable' and 'notable', which have subtle differences in connotation., Using 'remarkable' in a negative context, which doesn't fit its positive meaning., Overusing it; it can sound exaggerated if used too frequently. | Confused with 'tremendously', which is an adverb., Used inappropriately for small amounts, like 'a tremendous cup of coffee'., Mixing it up with 'tremble', which means to shake. |
| Usage notes | Use 'remarkable' to describe something that is impressive, surprising, or extraordinary. It is neutral in tone, so it can be used in most contexts, including both spoken and written language. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations where simpler terms may suffice. | Used to express something very large or impressive. Avoid using it in overly formal writing or when a simpler word would suffice. |
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Frequently asked questions: Remarkable vs Tremendous
What's the difference between Remarkable and Tremendous?
Remarkable: Very special or unusual, worth noticing. Tremendous: Very great in amount, size, or intensity.
Which is more common: Remarkable and Tremendous?
Tremendous is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Remarkable and Tremendous?
Tremendous is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Remarkable and Tremendous the same CEFR level?
Remarkable: B2, Tremendous: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Remarkable and Tremendous?
Remarkable: adjective, Tremendous: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Remarkable: The scientist made a remarkable discovery that changed the field forever. Tremendous: a tremendous explosion
Can I use Remarkable and Tremendous interchangeably?
Not always. Remarkable and Tremendous are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.