immense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "immense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is very large or great in size, amount, or degree. Example: "The immense size of the universe continues to baffle scientists and astronomers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The driver showed immense courage under very difficult circumstances".

The Guardian

Rodríguez had barely used Ramírez during the qualifiers but had come under immense pressure from fans to bring the player nicknamed 'El Pelé' to the World Cup.

The Guardian - Sport

The Thames from London Bridge to Greenwich I can only compare to an immense moving street of ships, large and small, something suggestive to the Parisian mind of an aquatic Rue de Rivoli.

The Guardian - Books

The critic Elizabeth Hardwick praised "a haunting creation, rich with incident and human bafflement, played out in an immense detail of landscape rendered with poignant brilliance".

The Guardian - Books

The closer than expected result will put immense pressure on Ed Miliband who has faced criticism after he forgot to mention the deficit in his Labour conference speech.

The Guardian

The strike could never have happened without the women's groups, on the picket, facing immense brutality and sexual harassment from the police, who called them "Scargill's slags".

The Guardian - Opinion

During the five years in which I worked on The Edwardians and, more recently, the interwar years for Borrowed Time, I developed an immense admiration for one of the great radicals of British history.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is a mark of the 60-year-old architect's immense standing in German society – in contrast to the quiet, if growing, respect for him in his native Britain – that last year, when David and Samantha Cameron visited Angela Merkel in the chancellor's country residence, Meseberg, he was also on the guest list.

The Guardian - Arts

One of the best directors I've worked with and her appreciation of actors was immense".

The Guardian - Film

It was a painful process, a tacit acknowledgment on Jane's part that she would not be able to take photographs indefinitely – she was in her late 70s at the time – and a growing awareness that this had been an immense support to her in a way she had always taken for granted.

The Guardian - Arts

Bariloche, on the banks of the immense Nahuel Huapi lake, is a major town, and a base for trekking and mountain biking; Apurabici rents bikes for £15 a day and organises half-day guided rides along mountain trails for £50pp.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "immense" to describe something that is not only large in size, but also significant in impact or degree. It adds a sense of importance to the description.

Common error

Avoid using "immense" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler words like "big" or "huge" would suffice. "Immense" is best reserved for situations where you want to emphasize the grandeur or significance of something.

Linguistic Context

The word "immense" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something of exceptionally great size, degree, or extent. Ludwig's examples showcase its usage in various contexts, affirming its role as a descriptor of significant magnitude.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "immense" is a versatile adjective used to describe something exceptionally large or significant. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, particularly in formal contexts like news and media. While alternatives like "vast" or "huge" exist, "immense" often carries a stronger emphasis on the impact or importance of what it describes. When writing, reserve "immense" for situations that genuinely warrant its descriptive power, avoiding overuse in casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Vast

Emphasizes the extremely large scale or extent.

Enormous

Highlights a great size or magnitude.

Huge

Indicates a great size, extent, or quantity.

Gigantic

Implies an extraordinarily large size.

Colossal

Suggests an immense size, often inspiring awe.

Tremendous

Highlights the great amount, scale, or degree of something.

Massive

Stresses the great size and solidity or weight.

Extensive

Refers to a great range or scope.

Substantial

Indicates a considerable amount or size.

Considerable

Implies a notable or significant degree or amount.

FAQs

How can I use "immense" in a sentence?

You can use "immense" to describe something very large or great. For example, "The universe is of "immense size"," or "She showed "immense courage" during the crisis."

What can I say instead of "immense"?

You can use alternatives like "vast", "enormous", or "huge" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "immense size" or "immensely sized"?

"Immense size" is the correct and more common phrasing. "Immensely sized" is less frequently used and can sound awkward.

What's the difference between "immense" and "significant"?

"Immense" refers to size or degree, while "significant" refers to importance or consequence. You might say "The project required an "immense amount of work"," but "The discovery had a "significant impact"."