capacious
What does "capacious" mean?
Capacious describes something that has a lot of space inside, capable of holding a large quantity of things. Think of a cavernous bag, a sprawling library, or a room that feels surprisingly large; it is not just big, but specifically designed or shaped to contain or accommodate much. While "spacious" is a common synonym, "capacious" carries a slightly more sophisticated, literary tone. It is often used to describe physical containers like trunks or pockets, but can also be used metaphorically to describe a person's intellect or memory—implying someone has a "roomy" mind capable of storing vast amounts of information.
"capacious" in conversation
Moving house
I don't think all these books will fit in that small crate.
I don't think all these books will fit in that small crate.
Don't worry, I brought this capacious duffel bag. It fits everything!
Don't worry, I brought this capacious duffel bag. It fits everything!
Used to emphasize the functional capacity of a bag.
Discussing a new office
The new office is quite capacious, don't you think?
The new office is quite capacious, don't you think?
It is! We have plenty of room for extra desks.
It is! We have plenty of room for extra desks.
Used in a professional setting to highlight the roominess of a workspace.
"capacious" in a sentence
She carried a capacious handbag filled with all her essentials.
She carried a capacious handbag filled with all her essentials.
The library is housed in a capacious hall that dates back to the nineteenth century.
The library is housed in a capacious hall that dates back to the nineteenth century.
He possessed a capacious intellect, capable of retaining complex data for decades.
He possessed a capacious intellect, capable of retaining complex data for decades.
