WordValecavernous
very large and hollow
In more detail
1. (adjective) very large, dark, and empty, like a cavern
2. (adjective) (of a sound) deep and hollow
Examples
- 1. The cavernous hall echoed with every footstep.
- 2. He spoke in a cavernous voice that seemed to come from deep inside his chest.
How to use cavernous
Cavernous describes something impressively large and often empty or hollow, evoking the atmosphere of an actual cavern. It is frequently used for architectural spaces (halls, warehouses) and can describe voices or sounds as deep and resonant. The term carries a somewhat literary or dramatic quality, suggesting not just size but an echo-like or hollow quality.
Common phrases
- cavernous space
- cavernous hall
- cavernous warehouse
- cavernous voice
- cavernous mouth
Synonyms
vast · hollow · echoing · spacious · yawning
Opposites
cramped · tiny · cozy
Word family
cavern · cavernously
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use cavernous merely to mean 'very large' without recognizing that it also implies a hollow, echoing, or dark quality; size alone is insufficient.
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