astonishingly large

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "astonishingly large" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is surprisingly or impressively big in size or quantity. Example: "The universe is astonishingly large, containing billions of galaxies and countless stars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

And here is a museum with an astonishingly large collection, but artifacts scarcely appear.

The New York Times - Arts

Given away free, they have found astonishingly large audiences.

The New York Times - Arts

It also denounces the "astonishingly" large role of guns.

The Guardian

You have in the Netherlands and in England an astonishingly large middle class.

Yale University

In contrast to the hobbit tooth, the finger fragment yielded astonishingly large amounts of DNA.

The New Yorker

To begin with, countries with Chinese-based economies have astonishingly large capital surpluses.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

"The footprints of one of the new individuals are astonishingly larger than anyone else's in the group, suggesting that he was a large male member of the species.

The Guardian

But, astonishingly, a large percentage of posters said they understood why the onlookers did not lend a helping hand.

The Guardian - Opinion

They were astonishingly huge — the largest wooden clear-span structures in the world, more than a thousand feet long.

The New Yorker

Astonishingly, the nation's largest city is among the safest.

The New York Times

Astonishingly, the windfall was larger than what President Bush had been able to obtain from the prior conservative, Republican-controlled Congress!

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "astonishingly large", consider whether the astonishment comes from the sheer size, the unexpectedness of the size, or both. Choose examples that reflect the specific reason for the surprise.

Common error

Avoid using "astonishingly large" with everyday objects or situations where large size is expected. This can diminish the impact of the phrase. Save it for truly remarkable instances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "astonishingly large" primarily functions as an intensifying adjective phrase. It modifies a noun by emphasizing its size, conveying not just largeness, but also a sense of surprise or wonder at the extent of that largeness. Ludwig provides examples of this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

20%

Science

18%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "astonishingly large" is a grammatically correct and commonly used way to describe something that is surprisingly or impressively big. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as an intensifier, emphasizing not just the size but also the unexpected nature of it. It's primarily used in neutral to formal contexts like news articles, academic papers, and scientific research. While there are many alternatives, such as "remarkably vast" or "incredibly huge", each carries a slightly different nuance. Avoid using "astonishingly large" with everyday objects to maximize its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remarkably vast

Replaces "astonishingly" with "remarkably" and "large" with "vast", emphasizing the extent or scope.

incredibly huge

Substitutes "astonishingly" with "incredibly" and "large" with "huge", conveying a sense of immense size.

surprisingly big

Uses "surprisingly" instead of "astonishingly", focusing on the unexpected nature of the size.

exceptionally sizable

Replaces "astonishingly" with "exceptionally" and "large" with "sizable", indicating a size beyond the norm.

unusually immense

Employs "unusually" instead of "astonishingly" and "immense" for "large", highlighting the uncommon magnitude.

strikingly massive

Substitutes "astonishingly" with "strikingly" and "large" with "massive", emphasizing the impressive and imposing nature of the size.

prodigiously large

Replaces "astonishingly" with "prodigiously", suggesting something impressively great in extent, force, or degree.

extraordinarily great

Uses "extraordinarily" to replace "astonishingly" and "great" for "large", emphasizing exceptional quality and magnitude.

particularly substantial

Substitutes "astonishingly" with "particularly" and "large" with "substantial", indicating considerable size or amount.

impressively considerable

Replaces "astonishingly large" to show something causes feeling of respect or wonder.

FAQs

How can I use "astonishingly large" in a sentence?

Use "astonishingly large" to describe something surprisingly or impressively big. For instance, "The data center had an astonishingly large storage capacity".

What can I say instead of "astonishingly large"?

You can use alternatives like "remarkably vast", "incredibly huge", or "surprisingly big" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "very astonishingly large"?

Yes, adding "very" before "astonishingly" is typically redundant. "Astonishingly" already implies a high degree of surprise and magnitude.

What's the difference between "astonishingly large" and "surprisingly large"?

"Astonishingly large" suggests a greater degree of amazement or disbelief than "surprisingly large". "Astonishingly" emphasizes the unexpected nature of the size and its impact. Use the right alternative based on the impact you want to provide.