capacious

IPA/kəˈpeɪʃəs/
KK[kəpˈeʃəs]IPA/kəˈpeɪʃəs/

capacious — adjective

  • capaciouspositive
  • more capaciouscomparative
  • most capacioussuperlative

1. having a large amount of space inside, so that you can put many things into it

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

having a large amount of space inside, so that you can put many things into it

Example

Min packed everything into one capacious suitcase before the trip to Ethiopia.

capacious + concrete container noun (suitcase)

The old church had a capacious attic where the neighbourhood children loved to play hide-and-seek.

Common collocations
  • capacious bag
  • capacious suitcase
  • capacious room
  • capacious interior
  • capacious storage
Synonyms
  • spacious

    more common; used especially for rooms and buildings

  • roomy

    less formal; used for vehicles, clothing, and containers

  • commodious

    similar register, but slightly less common

Antonyms

Usage Note

More formal than 'spacious' or 'roomy'; appears more often in written than in spoken English. Describes physical objects such as bags, rooms, or storage spaces.

Common Mistakes

This suitcase is very capable.
This suitcase is very capacious.
'capable' means able to do things well; 'capacious' means having a lot of space inside.

2. able to include or cover a wide range of different topics, ideas, opinions, or t

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

able to include or cover a wide range of different topics, ideas, opinions, or types of things

Example

Amira's capacious memory held the names of every plant she had studied in biology class.

capacious + abstract mental noun (memory)

The museum's capacious definition of 'art' included photography, digital works, and traditional paintings.

capacious definition + three-item list for range

Common collocations
  • capacious mind
  • capacious definition
  • capacious term
  • capacious understanding
  • capacious memory
Synonyms
Antonyms

Usage Note

Modifies abstract nouns such as 'definition', 'understanding', 'mind', 'memory', or 'term'. Rare in everyday conversation; found more in academic or literary writing.

Common Mistakes

The teacher gave a capacious explanation' (when you mean detailed or long).
The teacher's capacious knowledge covered many topics.
'capacious' refers to breadth or scope, not length.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something with plenty of space, but they differ in context and register. 'Spacious' is the most common neutral word for rooms, buildings, or indoor areas. 'Roomy' is more informal and often describes vehicles, clothing, or containers. 'Commodious' is formal and less frequent, used mainly in written descriptions of houses or halls. 'Ample' focuses on sufficiency — enough space for a purpose — rather than sheer size. For example, you would call a living room 'spacious', a car interior 'roomy', a Victorian library 'commodious', and a kitchen 'ample' if it gives you enough counter space to cook comfortably.

spacious ↗roomycommodious ↗ample ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • surprisingly capacious
  • remarkably capacious

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from Latin 'capāx' (meaning 'able to hold much'), which itself comes from 'capere' (meaning 'to take, hold, contain'). The word entered English in the early 1600s and has kept its core meaning of 'large capacity' ever since.

First known use

1606

1606, in the meaning defined above