Prodigious means remarkably large, powerful, or impressive, far beyond what's ordinary or expected. When something is prodigious, it makes people stop and say “Wow, that's extraordinary!”

A prodigious talent is an exceptional ability. Mozart showed prodigious musical gifts as a young child, composing symphonies before most kids learn long division. A prodigious memory means you can remember vast amounts of information with unusual accuracy. A prodigious appetite means eating enormous quantities of food (imagine a competitive eater consuming fifty hot dogs in one sitting).

The word often describes amounts or abilities that seem almost unbelievable. A scientist might demonstrate prodigious knowledge of chemistry, mastering concepts that take others years to understand. An athlete might show prodigious strength, lifting weights that few others can budge. A storm might drop prodigious amounts of rain, flooding streets within hours.

When you call something prodigious, you're saying it's remarkable enough to inspire awe. It's the difference between reading quickly and reading with such prodigious speed that you finish novels in a single afternoon.