cavernous

adjective

cav·ern·ous ˈka-vər-nəs

Synonyms of cavernous

: having caverns or cavities

of animal tissue : composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part

: constituting or suggesting a cavern

a cavernous warehouse

cavernously adverb

Examples of cavernous in a Sentence

We toured the cavernous airplane hangar. The dance was held in a cavernous hall.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Who shall enter the cavernous maw of our fair stadium next? — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 27 June 2026 The living room can turn suddenly cold and cavernous, with Joe and Angela yelling at each other across an emotional chasm. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 19 June 2026 Its interior felt cavernous, like the inside of the school bus that my uncle drove, except bookshelves lined the interior instead of bench seats. — Literary Hub, 29 June 2026 The centerpiece of the operation is a cavernous, largely underground basin dug near Gare d’Austerlitz. — Camille Knight, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cavernous

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin cavernōsus "having hollows or depressions," from caverna "hollow space, cavern entry 1" + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of cavernous was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cavernous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavernous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·ern·ous ˈkav-ər-nəs

: having caverns or cavities

: resembling a cavern in being large and hollow

: composed largely of spaces capable of filling with blood to bring about the enlargement of a body part

cavernously adverb

Medical Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·ern·ous ˈkav-ər-nəs

: having caverns or cavities

of tissue : composed largely of vascular sinuses and capable of dilating with blood to bring about the erection of a body part

cavernous

adjective

Examples of cavernous in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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