What does gigantic mean?
Gigantic is an adjective meaning extremely large or immense, whether referring to physical dimensions or to something vast in scale, importance, or effect. It is used for objects, structures, forces, quantities, and abstract ideas: a gigantic building might cover an entire district, while a gigantic change can transform an organization or an era. The word is common in British and American English and can appear in journalism, literary description, conversation, and formal statements. Its strong dramatic quality makes it useful for emphasis, though it may sound exaggerated when the subject is not truly enormous. Gigantically, its adverbial form, is also occasionally used, especially in literary or emphatic contexts. Overall, gigantic conveys a sense of exceptional size, power, or significance, making it more forceful than simply saying that something is big.
adjectiveExtremely large in size, scale, or extent. Often used figuratively to describe something immense in importance, capacity, or effect.
- Extremely large in physical size or extent.
- Very great in scale, importance, capacity, or effect.
"The engineers built a gigantic structure designed to withstand powerful storms."
"A gigantic wave struck the coast and forced the boats back to shore."
"The company announced a gigantic investment in renewable energy."
From the same Greek root as giant, gigantic turns an ancient idea of human giants into a modern word for anything that reaches an astonishing scale.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gigantic come from?
The English adjective gigantic was borrowed in the early 17th century from a form based on Greek gigant-, a combining form associated with gigas, the Greek word for a giant. The same ancient root underlies English words such as giant, gigantism, and gigantopithecus, as well as the related gigantesque. Over time, gigantic came to be used both for exceptionally large physical objects and for things of immense scale or significance.
Related word forms
How gigantic is actually used
Gigantic is common in both formal and informal English, but it often carries a dramatic or hyperbolic tone. It can describe physical size as well as abstract or figurative scale, and it is especially effective when the subject is genuinely impressive or overwhelming.
Easily confused with gigantic
Gigantic is normally an adjective describing something extremely large, while a giant is a person, creature, or thing that is unusually large and can also be used attributively.