enormously

enormously — adverb

1. used to mean 'to a very large degree' or 'far beyond what is typical', emphasisi

1.adverbB2
Definition

used to mean 'to a very large degree' or 'far beyond what is typical', emphasising that something exists or happens at a remarkably high level or extent.

Example

The research team felt enormously proud when their work won the national award.

enormously + adjective (proud)

Priya's language skills improved enormously after she spent a year in Tokyo.

enormously + verb of change (improved)

Common collocations
  • enormously proud
  • enormously grateful
  • enormously popular
  • enormously helpful
  • enormously successful
  • enormously well received
  • enormously well attended
  • grew enormously
  • improved enormously
  • benefited enormously
  • expanded enormously
  • increased enormously
Synonyms
  • extremely

    neutral and widely used; fits almost any gradable adjective or adverb

  • vastly

    emphasises breadth or scope; common with comparatives (vastly superior)

  • immensely

    carries a tone of personal emotion or awe (immensely grateful, immensely proud)

  • hugely

    suggests impressive size or impact; slightly informal (hugely popular)

Antonyms
  • slightly

    a small degree, the opposite of a great degree

  • barely

    only just, implying a very small amount

Grammar Patterns

enormously + adjective (e.g., enormously proud)

enormously + well + past participle (e.g., enormously well received)

verb + enormously (e.g., grew enormously)

Usage Note

Typically modifies gradable adjectives (proud, helpful, popular) and verbs of increase or change (grow, improve, benefit, expand). Placed before an adjective but after the verb it modifies.

Common Mistakes

The project was an enormously success.
The project was an enormous success.
After the verb 'was', an adjective is needed (enormous), not an adverb (enormously).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All five intensifiers mean 'to a very great degree', but they differ in nuance and typical contexts. Extremely is the most neutral and widely applicable — it fits almost any gradable adjective or adverb and suits both formal and informal writing. Vastly emphasises breadth or scope and often pairs with comparatives (vastly different, vastly superior). Immensely carries a personal or emotional tone, making it natural for feelings like gratitude or pride (immensely grateful, immensely proud). Hugely suggests impressive size or impact and feels slightly informal (hugely successful, hugely popular). Tremendously has a dynamic, energetic feel and works well in dramatic or exciting contexts (tremendously exciting, tremendously difficult). For neutral or formal use, choose extremely; for personal emotion, immensely; for lively, informal expression, hugely or tremendously.

extremely ↗vastly ↗immenselyhugely ↗tremendously

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From enormous + -ly. Enormous comes from Latin 'enormis', meaning 'out of the ordinary' or 'unusual', from 'e-' (out of) + 'norma' (rule, pattern). Over time, the meaning shifted from 'abnormal' to 'extremely large in size, amount, or degree'. The adverb form enormously appeared in English in the early 1600s.