massive
gb/mˈæsɪv/ us/mˈæsɪv/
A2
English
~ 2100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Very large in size or amount
Very big in size or number.
Usage pattern:
[something] is massive
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'massive' with 'heavy'. While something massive can be heavy, 'massive' refers mainly to size or amount, not just weight.
Synonyms
enormous (Similar in meaning but slightly more common in everyday speech.)
|
huge (Informal and very common; often interchangeable.)
Antonyms
tiny (Indicates something extremely small in size.)
|
small (General opposite of large in size.)
Collocations
massive building
|massive crowd
|massive amount
|massive increase
|massive success
Themes
description
|measurement
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company reported a massive increase in sales this year.
- A massive crowd gathered in the square to hear the speech.
- They live in a massive house overlooking the lake.
- The storm caused massive damage to the coastal area.
- She made a massive effort to finish the project on time.
Learner examples
- The building is massive.
- We saw a massive elephant at the zoo.
- There is a massive tree in the park.
- He bought a massive cake for the party.
- The box is massive and heavy.
adjective
B1
property
2
Very serious or important
Very important or serious.
Usage pattern:
[something] is massive
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'big' instead of 'massive' for emphasis; while possible, 'massive' often suggests even greater seriousness or importance.
Synonyms
major (Commonly used to describe something important or serious.)
|
significant (Slightly more formal; stresses importance or impact.)
Antonyms
minor (Indicates something not important or serious.)
Collocations
massive problem
|massive challenge
|massive failure
|massive opportunity
Themes
importance
|events
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The team faces a massive challenge in the final round.
- Losing that contract was a massive setback for the business.
- This decision will have a massive impact on the community.
- He made a massive mistake during the negotiations.
- The policy change represents a massive opportunity for growth.
Learner examples
- This is a massive problem for us.
- She made a massive mistake.
- We have a massive chance to win.
- It is a massive change for the school.
- He gave me a massive help.
adjective
B2
property
3
Having great weight or mass
Very heavy and strong.
Usage pattern:
[something] is massive
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'massive' here with 'muscular' when describing people; 'massive' in this sense refers to physical heaviness, not muscle tone specifically.
Synonyms
weighty (Formal; emphasizes heaviness rather than size.)
|
solid (Suggests dense and firm structure.)
Antonyms
lightweight (Describes something that weighs very little.)
Collocations
massive rock
|massive object
|massive structure
Themes
physics
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A massive boulder blocked the path.
- The sculpture was made from a massive block of marble.
- They moved a massive table into the dining room.
- The safe was massive and hard to move.
- The ship’s anchor was massive and rusted.
Learner examples
- The stone is massive.
- That table looks massive and heavy.
- We saw a massive rock by the road.
- The safe is massive and strong.
- He lifted a massive bag.
Grammar
Dictionary form
massive
IPA
GB/mˈæsɪv/
US/mˈæsɪv/
Syllables & stress
massive (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (massive)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: massive
Word family
Core family
mass
noun B1
massively
adverb
Expressions
a massive hit
1/ə mˈæsɪv hˈɪt/
fixed phrase
Extremely successful thing
Something that is very popular or successful.
Examples
- The movie was a massive hit at the box office.
- Her new song became a massive hit overnight.
make a massive difference
1/mˈeɪk ə mˈæsɪv dˈɪfɹəns/
fixed phrase
Cause an important change or effect
To change something in an important way.
Examples
- Donating even a small amount can make a massive difference.
- Good leadership can make a massive difference to team morale.
on a massive scale
1/ˈɔn ə mˈæsɪv skˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
Happening to a very large extent
Happening in a very big way.
Examples
- The company is expanding on a massive scale.
- Pollution is occurring on a massive scale around the world.