sizable
/ˈsaɪzəbəl/
Describes something that is not just large, but impressively or significantly so. It often carries a connotation of being 'enough' to be noteworthy or impactful. While "big" is generic and "huge" can feel hyperbolic, "sizable" is measured and objective. It is frequently used in professional, financial, or journalistic contexts to describe sums of money, portions of land, or groups of people. It implies a scale that commands attention or creates a meaningful difference, but stops short of being overwhelming or astronomical.
💬Casual Conversation
Did David ever get back to you about that bug report? It's turning into a sizable issue.
Nah, still radio silence. Just gotta ride the wave, dude.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
sizable portion
A large or significant part of something.
He ate a sizable portion of the cake.
sizable amount
A large quantity of something.
The charity received a sizable amount of donations.
sizable chunk
A large piece or part of something.
The company took a sizable chunk out of the market share.
sizable increase
A significant rise or growth in something.
There was a sizable increase in sales this quarter.
sizable audience
A large group of people watching or listening to something.
The concert attracted a sizable audience.
Etymology
The word 'sizable' derives from the noun 'size' and the suffix '-able', indicating capability or capacity. 'Size' itself comes from the Old French 'sis(e)' and Vulgar Latin 'sicta', possibly related to Latin 'siccus' meaning 'dry', implying a measured or contained quantity. The suffix '-able' is of Latin origin ('-abilis'). The word 'sizable' emerged in English in the early 19th century, initially meaning 'capable of being measured by size', but quickly evolved to mean 'of considerable size, large'.