capacious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "capacious" is correct and can be used in written English.
It means able to hold a lot and is used to describe physical things such as containers, buildings, and rooms. For example, "The capacious storage closet held all of our camping supplies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Because it is itself an unruly bastard tongue, it is capacious enough for everyone to find within it their own unique cadences.

The Guardian - Opinion

All of which suggests that American Christianity much like both America and Christianity themselves is fundamentally neither of the left nor the right, but is capacious enough for all comers.

The Economist

Thousands were obliged to go away without obtaining admission, although every available corner of the capacious building was filled up.

The Economist

Its wooded surroundings suited his passion for hunting; its capacious interior provided room enough for the enormous art collection amassed by his forebears.

The Economist

She would call down calm on every one of them, on the worst and the bitterest ones first of all".Such capacious forgiveness is something that Ames, with his settled and placid life, never had to do.

The Economist

Now, in this capacious and impressive biography, Ms Grundy brings the full weight of her learning to bear on her subject, keeping a weather eye at all times on the gender aspect.In this section A corking row Star quality M'lords, ladies and gentlemen Missing wit ReprintsHer sex is seldom considered irrelevant to the matter under discussion.

The Economist

MANY chefs have stirred the cauldron of war consuming Syria and Iraq, but perhaps none so vigorously or with so long and capacious a spoon as the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Economist

But supplemented by annotations that explain back-stories, the book is more capacious than the feed.

The Economist

At 350 square feet (33 square metres), this is a fairly capacious model.

The Economist

Tellingly, most members of ethnic minorities describe themselves as British rather than English or Scottish; they instinctively recognise the capacious, liberal identity one which rests not on narrow nationalism, but on an enlightened concept of nationhood that the union offers.

The Economist

So, slowly, pubs go bust, realising more value as awkward private houses, with hanging globe lamps and capacious cellars and a hard-to-shift aroma of smoke, sweat and ale.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing spaces, consider using "capacious" to convey not just size but also the sense of comfort and abundance within that space. For example, a "capacious" library suggests a welcoming and well-stocked environment.

Common error

Avoid using "capacious" in everyday conversations or very informal writing. Simpler words like "large" or "roomy" are often more appropriate and natural in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The word "capacious" functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate a large capacity or spaciousness. As Ludwig AI states, it describes physical things like containers, buildings, and rooms. The examples show its usage in describing buildings, rooms, bags and even forgiveness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "capacious" is a grammatically correct adjective that describes something as having a lot of space inside; being roomy. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English. Its frequency is very common, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias, and science-related writing. While synonyms like "roomy" or "spacious" exist, "capacious" is best employed in formal contexts where you wish to emphasize the comfortable abundance of space, rather than just its size. Avoid overuse in informal settings for a more natural tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

roomy

Direct synonym; focuses on the feeling of having ample space.

spacious

Similar to roomy; emphasizes the extent of the space available.

ample

Highlights that there is more than enough space.

voluminous

Suggests a great quantity or volume of space.

commodious

Implies convenience and comfort due to ample space.

large

A general term indicating considerable size or capacity.

extensive

Suggests a wide range or scope in terms of space.

generous

Implies that the space is plentiful and readily available.

expansive

Emphasizes the broad and open nature of the space.

sizable

Indicates that the space is noticeably large.

FAQs

How can I use "capacious" in a sentence?

You can use "capacious" to describe something that has a lot of space inside. For example, "The "capacious storage closet" held all of our camping supplies".

What's a good alternative to "capacious"?

Alternatives include "roomy", "spacious", or "ample" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the word "capacious"?

The word "capacious" is appropriate when you want to emphasize not just the size but also the feeling of comfort and abundance within a space or container. It is generally used in more formal contexts.

What is the difference between "capacious" and "spacious"?

"Capacious" emphasizes the ability to hold a large amount, while "spacious" focuses on the extent of the area. A room can be spacious even if it doesn't hold much, but a capacious container is designed to hold a considerable quantity.