What does massively mean?
Massively is an adverb meaning to a very great extent or in a very large amount. It is commonly used to intensify a statement about popularity, impact, growth, scale, or change: for example, a service may be described as massively popular or a company may massively increase production. The word can also indicate that something involves a great many people or resources, as in “a massively diverse audience.” Although it sounds emphatic, massively is widely accepted in formal writing, journalism, business, and everyday speech. It is related to the adjective massive, but its grammatical role is different: massive describes a noun or subject, while massively modifies a verb, adjective, or adverb. Compared with alternatives such as greatly, hugely, and extensively, massively often places particular emphasis on large scale and broad extent.
adverbTo a very great extent or in a very large amount; greatly or extensively. It can also mean in a way involving very many people, resources, or things.
- In a very large amount, degree, or extent; greatly or extensively.
- In a way that involves very many people, resources, or components.
"The new policy was massively popular with voters."
"The company massively increased its investment in research."
"The event drew a massively diverse crowd from across the country."
Something can be massively important without being massive in size: massively is often about scale, impact, or extent rather than physical bulk.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does massively come from?
Massively was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective massive. Massive entered English through French massif, ultimately deriving from Latin massa, a word associated with a mass or bulk. The related English words mass, massive, and massif preserve this shared sense of size, bulk, or substantial quantity.
How massively is actually used
Common in both formal and informal registers. It is especially associated with journalism, business, technology, and descriptions of public reactions, where it emphasizes the scale of a trend, effect, or change.
Easily confused with massively
Massive is an adjective describing something of great size or importance, whereas massively is an adverb indicating that something happens to a very great extent.
Massif refers to a large, compact group of mountains, while massively is an adverb meaning greatly or extensively.