Abnormal grain growth in alumina was investigated during sinter-HIP process for better understanding of pressure effect on microstructural development. Abnormal grain growth of monolithic alumina was observed near surface region rather than interior region of specimen. Finite element analysis was used to estimate the pressure distribution developed in the specimen. Pressure distribution analysis was in good agreement with grain size distributjion in the specimen. The results of finite element analysis provided that abnormal grain growth monolithic alumina was resulted from the inhomogeneous pressure distribution in the specimen. MgO addition in alumina was effective for the suppression of abnormal grain growth in alumina under inhomogeneous pressure distribution during sinter-HIP process.