Meaning & use
ubiquitous
Last updated
UK/juːˈbɪk.wɪ.təs/
US/juːˈbɪk.wə.t̬əs/
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Seeming to be everywhere or present in many places at the same time.
Grammar: Usually before a noun or after a linking verb; not gradable — no 'more ubiquitous.'
Patterns
- ubiquitous in something
- ubiquitous among
- become ubiquitous
Smartphones have become ubiquitous, even in remote villages.
Plastic packaging is ubiquitous in modern supermarkets.
Common combinations
- ubiquitous in modern life
- Advertising is ubiquitous in modern life.
- become ubiquitous
- Video calls became ubiquitous during the pandemic.
- seemingly ubiquitous
- The singer's face was seemingly ubiquitous that summer.
Synonyms and how they differ
- omnipresent
- Omnipresent means present everywhere at once, often about God or something inescapable; ubiquitous suits everyday things.
- pervasive
- Pervasive spreads through and influences everything; ubiquitous just means seen everywhere.
- universal
- Universal means found everywhere or true for everyone, often in a broader, more abstract sense.
Opposites
Word family
- ubiquity noun
- The state of being everywhere or very common.
- ubiquitously adverb
- In a way that is found everywhere; rarely used.
Commonly confused: ubiquitous or ambidextrous?
ubiquitous vs ambidextrous
Ambidextrous means able to use both hands equally well; the two words share the ending but have unrelated meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'ubiquitous' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Ubiquitous means found everywhere, so it describes Wi-Fi's presence in cafés. It is not gradable (option 2) and cannot be used as an adverb (option 3).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ubiquitous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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