they were gigantic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were gigantic" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is extremely large or massive, often in a figurative or literal sense. Example: "The trees in the ancient forest were so tall that they seemed to touch the sky; they were gigantic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"This morning, they were gigantic," he said.

The New York Times

They were gigantic and some were almost flat, looking like melted cheese.

The New York Times - Food

He did that by creating a disco persona, recording disco songs that weren't huge hits here, but they were gigantic hits overseas.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the episode's opening scene, her new love interest Josh easily pulls on her pants only to realize they're gigantic on him.

Huffington Post

Your pumpkins will be ready to harvest when they are a solid, deep color (and they are gigantic!) The rind should be hard.

WikiHow

They would think the windows were gigantic".

The New York Times - Magazine

Desserts were gigantic extravaganzas that looked better than they tasted.

The New York Times

The inefficiency, waste and destruction were gigantic.

The Guardian - Books

Frames were gigantic and gorgeous.

Huffington Post

"They should be gigantic," Jimmy Iovine, a co-founder of Interscope Records who has produced albums by Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Meat Loaf, told Billboard in a 2015 interview.

The New Yorker

Then, two minutes will have passed and those same Congresspersons will be fully integrated into the matrix of special interest money and lobbyist-serpents and they will be gigantic sell-outs like all the rest.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were gigantic" to vividly describe something exceptionally large or significant, making sure the context supports the use of such a strong adjective. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing; a more common term like "huge" might be more appropriate in informal settings.

Common error

While "gigantic" effectively conveys immense size, it can sound less formal or even hyperbolic in certain professional or academic settings. Opt for more neutral and precise language like "enormous" or "extensive" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were gigantic" primarily functions as a descriptive statement. It uses the pronoun "they" to refer to a previously mentioned subject and the adjective "gigantic" to describe their size or scale, as shown by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were gigantic" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe something of exceptionally large size or significance. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness. While "gigantic" might sometimes sound less formal, the phrase appears across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. For more formal settings, alternatives like "they were enormous" may be preferable. Understanding the context and intended tone is key to its effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were enormous

Uses a different adjective to convey a similar meaning of being very large.

they were huge

A more common and informal way to express great size.

they were immense

Emphasizes the vastness and scale.

they were colossal

Suggests a size that inspires awe or wonder.

they were massive

Highlights the sheer bulk and weight.

they were gigantic in scale

Adds explicit emphasis on scale, implying a large proportional size.

their size was gigantic

Shifts the focus to the size as the subject, rephrasing the sentence structure.

they were of gigantic proportions

More formal and descriptive, emphasizing the dimensional aspect.

they were strikingly large

Highlights the impressiveness of their size.

they appeared gigantic

Focuses on the perception of size, rather than absolute measurement.

FAQs

How can I use "they were gigantic" in a sentence?

You can use "they were gigantic" to describe something that is exceptionally large or significant. For instance, "The waves at the beach this morning were gigantic" or "The portions at the restaurant were gigantic".

What are some alternatives to saying "they were gigantic"?

Alternatives include "they were enormous", "they were huge", or "they were immense". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "they were gigantic" too informal for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, "they were gigantic" might be perceived as less formal than other options like "they were enormous" or "they were massive". Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when choosing the best phrase.

What's the difference between "they were gigantic" and "they were huge"?

"They were gigantic" and "they were huge" both describe something very large, but "gigantic" often suggests a more extreme or awe-inspiring size. "Huge" is a more common and versatile term, while "gigantic" can add a sense of exaggeration or wonder.