it was enormous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was enormous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very large or significant in size, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "The ancient tree stood in the center of the park, and it was enormous, casting a long shadow over the surrounding grass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

In fact, the business Altoids mints–saw explosive growth during her two-year tenure and "it was enormous fun" building the brand, she said.

Forbes

But now, in its erect state, it was enormous.

The New Yorker

"It was enormous," Kersauson recalled.

The New Yorker

"It was enormous and beautiful," he said.

The New York Times

It was enormous and busy.

The New York Times - Magazine

He struggles: "It was enormous.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

It is enormous.

The New York Times

"It's enormous".

The New York Times

Now it's enormous.

BBC

Right now, it is enormous.

The New York Times

"It's enormous, this thing.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Enhance the impact of the description by adding sensory details. Instead of only stating "it was enormous", describe what made it seem so large, like "it was enormous, dwarfing the surrounding buildings."

Common error

Avoid using "it was enormous" as a standalone statement without providing a scale or context. Without comparison or sensory details, the impact of 'enormous' can be lost, leaving the reader without a clear understanding of the magnitude. For instance, instead of saying "The crowd was enormous", specify "The crowd was enormous, filling the entire stadium and overflowing into the streets."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was enormous" functions primarily as a descriptive statement. Based on Ludwig AI, it describes a subject ('it') as having been significantly large in size, scope, or degree at a point in the past. Ludwig examples show the phrase used to describe physical objects, pressure, fun, and even abstract concepts, illustrating its versatility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was enormous" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something of significant size, scale, or impact. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from describing physical objects to abstract concepts. While generally neutral in register, its effectiveness relies on providing sufficient context to convey the intended scale and impact clearly. To enhance usage, add sensory details and comparisons to ensure your audience fully grasps the magnitude you're describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was huge

Replaces 'enormous' with 'huge', a direct synonym expressing great size.

it was immense

Substitutes 'enormous' with 'immense', suggesting vastness or boundlessness.

it was massive

Replaces 'enormous' with 'massive', emphasizing great bulk or scale.

it was gigantic

Substitutes 'enormous' with 'gigantic', implying extraordinary size.

it was considerable

Replaces 'enormous' by 'considerable', focusing on significance or importance.

it was substantial

Substitutes 'enormous' by 'substantial', conveying a sense of considerable amount or degree.

it was exceedingly large

Expands 'enormous' into a more descriptive phrase with 'exceedingly large'.

it was remarkably big

Rephrases 'enormous' to emphasize the surprising degree of size.

it was strikingly vast

Replaces 'enormous' using 'vast', implying extensiveness and impressiveness.

its size was striking

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the striking nature of the size.

FAQs

What does "it was enormous" mean?

The phrase "it was enormous" is used to describe something that is very large in size, scale, or degree. It conveys a sense of impressiveness or overwhelming magnitude.

What can I say instead of "it was enormous"?

You can use alternatives like "it was huge", "it was immense", or "it was massive" depending on the specific context.

How can I make the description "it was enormous" more effective?

To enhance the description "it was enormous", provide context by comparing it to something familiar. Add sensory details to illustrate the scale and impact, helping your audience visualize the magnitude more vividly.

Is "it is enormous" different from "it was enormous"?

"It is enormous" describes something that is currently very large, while "it was enormous" describes something that was very large in the past. The choice depends on whether the subject is still enormous at the time of speaking.