Meaning & use
ginormous vs enormous
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A comparison of two adjectives meaning 'very big', where 'ginormous' is the informal, exaggerated one and 'enormous' is the neutral, standard one.
Grammar: Used to discuss word choice: 'ginormous' sounds playful and spoken, while 'enormous' fits neutral or formal writing.
Patterns
- something is ginormous
- something is enormous
- ginormous in speech, enormous in writing
Learners often ask about ginormous vs enormous, and the short answer is that one is slangy and the other is neutral.
That pizza was ginormous, but the restaurant itself was enormous and quite elegant.
In a school report, write 'an enormous increase', not 'a ginormous increase'.
adjectivecomparable
Extremely large in size, amount, or degree; the standard word used in all registers.
Grammar: Gradable, so it takes 'very', 'really', or 'absolutely': an absolutely enormous crowd.
Patterns
- an enormous amount of something
- enormous pressure on someone
- enormous difference between things
The new stadium is enormous and can hold eighty thousand people.
She felt enormous relief when the exam results finally arrived.
There is enormous demand for housing in this part of the city.
adjectivecomparableinformalhumorous
Extremely large; an informal, exaggerated word used mostly in speech to show surprise or amusement.
Grammar: Gradable but strongly informal; it often carries a tone of joking exaggeration.
Patterns
- a ginormous something
- something is ginormous
- ginormous fun
We ordered a ginormous bowl of noodles and still finished it.
Their dog is ginormous, but it is gentle with children.
He came home with a ginormous grin on his face.
Word forms
| comparative | more enormous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most enormous |
Common combinations
- enormous amount
- Repairing the roof cost an enormous amount of money.
- enormous pressure
- Teachers are under enormous pressure during exam season.
- enormous difference
- A little practice every day makes an enormous difference.
- absolutely ginormous
- The watermelon they grew was absolutely ginormous.
- ginormous mistake
- Inviting both of them was a ginormous mistake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- huge
- Neutral and very common; it fits almost any context, so it is safer than 'ginormous' in writing.
- massive
- Suggests great weight or solid bulk, whereas 'enormous' simply stresses large size.
- gigantic
- Slightly more vivid and literary than 'enormous', often used for things that look like giants.
- colossal
- Formal and emphatic, used for scale that seems almost unbelievable, such as colossal damage.
Opposites
Word family
- enormously adverb
- Very much; used to emphasize verbs and adjectives, as in 'enormously popular'.
- enormity noun
- The great size or seriousness of something, especially something bad.
Commonly confused: ginormous vs enormous or enormity? ginormous vs enormous or ginormous?
ginormous vs enormous vs enormity
'Enormity' means great seriousness or wickedness, not great size, so 'the enormity of the building' is often considered wrong; say 'the enormous size of the building'.
ginormous vs enormous vs ginormous
This is the informal partner word; choosing it in a formal essay sounds out of place even though the meaning is clear.
Practice
Which sentence uses the more suitable word for a formal report?
Choose one answer.
'Enormous' is neutral and fits formal writing, while 'ginormous' is informal and would sound out of place. Option D fails because 'enormity' is a noun meaning great seriousness, not a synonym for 'enormous'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ginormous vs enormous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.