massive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "massive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something very large or substantial. For example, "The audience for the concert was massive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The government recently warned that alternatives to HS2 could spell massive disruption on mainline railways, but expects others to accept massively disrupted local lives.

The Guardian

Since last July the state has opted to use just one massive dose of the sedative pentobarbital as its lethal injection, instead of a cocktail of three different drugs.

The Guardian

"We have spoken about it, he is a massive England fan and, if needed, would drop everything at the drop of a hat to come and join us.

The Guardian - Sport

YouTube, meanwhile, thinks that is only right to count channel video views for videos that are still actually present on the channels - which means that whenever YouTube got round to reviewing the music majors' channels on its site, a massive cut was always going to be in order.

The Guardian - Tech

The original roots of the "corporate identity" business lay in design-led American companies which, from the 30s to the 50s, rationalised the look of great corporations through the application of massive design programmes.

The Guardian

The global success of its franchises – The Walking Dead is the biggest-ever cable show in the US and has a massive global following – has led AMC to make the $1bn bet on controlling its own content on channels internationally.

The Guardian

"Based on historic and global track records, trying to build a new city from scratch is a massive gamble," says Brent Toderian, Vancouver's former chief planner, and a consultant for several cities outside of the Middle East.

The Guardian

The latest statistics from Strasbourg also show that the court's massive backlog of applications has fallen sharply again, down 30% over the year to 69,000.

The Guardian

Analysts said it was clear that more than four months of wrangling over the terms of an extension to the country's massive bailout programme has taken its toll.

The Guardian - Business

The president of Sierra Leone will launch a massive campaign on Wednesday to curb the spread of Ebola in the western areas of the capital Freetown, which will aim to scare people into changing their behaviour.

The Guardian

Young people, says Hamm, are capable of 'huge surliness one minute and massive love the next'.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "massive", consider the connotation. It can imply not only size but also impact or significance. Choose it when you want to emphasize both aspects.

Common error

While "massive" is versatile, overuse in informal conversation can sound unnatural. Opt for more casual synonyms like "huge" or "big" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The word "massive" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate great size, scale, or intensity. Ludwig's examples show it being used to describe everything from physical objects to abstract concepts like disruption or campaigns.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

16%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "massive" is a versatile adjective used to denote something of considerable size, scale, or impact. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in News & Media. While highly useful, be mindful of overuse in informal settings, where synonyms like "huge" or "big" may be more appropriate. Remember that using "massive" emphasizes not only the size but also the significance of what you're describing. Consider related phrases such as "immense" or "colossal" for varied impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immense

Replaces "massive" with a focus on extraordinary size or extent.

colossal

Indicates extreme largeness, often suggesting something awe-inspiring or daunting.

enormous

Similar to massive but often used to emphasize the quantity or scope.

gigantic

Emphasizes a size that is much larger than the typical.

substantial

Highlights the significance or importance in addition to size.

extensive

Focuses on the reach or scope of something rather than just its size.

huge

A common synonym emphasizing great size or capacity.

tremendous

Implies a great impact or effect rather than just physical size.

large-scale

Highlights the extent or scope of an operation or event.

considerable

Indicates a significant amount or degree, not necessarily physical size.

FAQs

How can I use "massive" in a sentence?

You can use "massive" to describe something very large or significant. For example, "The company launched a "massive marketing campaign"".

What can I say instead of "massive"?

You can use alternatives like "immense", "colossal", or "enormous" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "massive" in formal writing?

Yes, "massive" is suitable for formal writing when used to describe something of considerable size, scale, or impact. Ensure the context aligns with the tone.

What's the difference between "massive" and "huge"?

While both indicate great size, "massive" often implies a greater sense of scale, impact, or significance compared to "huge". "Huge" is generally more informal.