cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈka-vər-nəs 

1

a

: having caverns or cavities

b

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

2

: 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

The course’s signature 16th hole is a par 3 with a tee shot over a cavernous quarry, a test of both skill and nerve alike. —David Weiss, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

The passenger cabin of the Traverse is cavernous—spacious for both passengers and cargo. —Michael Harley, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Dancers and musicians, drawn from each of the eight regions to have been awarded a franchise, performed at the Salt Lake Stadium, a cavernous concrete bowl on the outskirts of Kolkata, ahead of the opening game. —Rory Smith, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

On a chilly spring night in Balboa Park, the Casa del Prado’s cavernous rehearsal room was warmed by the body heat of more than a dozen San Diego Civic Youth Ballet dance students. —Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025

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

Kids Definition

cavernous

adjective

cav·​ern·​ous ˈkav-ər-nəs 

1

: having caverns or cavities

2

: resembling a cavern in being large and hollow

3

: 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 

1

: having caverns or cavities

2

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