Definitions

big

[big] / bɪg /

ADJECTIVE

large, great

Synonyms

STRONGEST

colossal considerable enormous fat full gigantic hefty huge immense massive sizable substantial tremendous vast

WEAK

a whale of a ample awash brimming bulky burly capacious chock-full commodious copious crowded extensive heavy-duty heavyweight hulking humongous husky jumbo mammoth mondo monster oversize packed ponderous prodigious roomy spacious strapping stuffed supercolossal thundering voluminous walloping whopper whopping

Antonyms

STRONGEST

impoverished inconsiderable insignificant little miniature minute poor slight small teeny thin tiny unimportant

WEAK

adolescent baby babyish blah bland dull humble infant infantile itsy juvenile selfish shy unconfident ungenerous ungiving

ADJECTIVE

important

Synonyms

STRONGEST

considerable leading main popular powerful serious significant substantial valuable

WEAK

big-league big-time consequential eminent heavy-duty heavyweight influential major-league material meaningful momentous paramount prime principal prominent super supercolossal weighty

Antonyms

STRONGEST

insignificant little minor small subordinate trivial unimportant

WEAK

adolescent baby babyish blah bland dull humble infant infantile itsy juvenile selfish shy tiny unconfident ungenerous ungiving

ADJECTIVE

grown

Synonyms

STRONGEST

tall

WEAK

adult elder full-grown grown-up mature

Antonyms

WEAK

adolescent baby babyish blah bland dull humble infant infantile itsy juvenile little selfish shy small tiny unconfident ungenerous ungiving unimportant

ADJECTIVE

generous

Synonyms

WEAK

altruistic benevolent bighearted chivalrous considerate free gracious greathearted heroic liberal lofty magnanimous noble princely unselfish

Antonyms

WEAK

adolescent baby babyish blah bland dull humble infant infantile itsy juvenile little selfish shy small tiny unconfident ungenerous ungiving unimportant

ADJECTIVE

arrogant

Synonyms

WEAK

arty boastful bragging conceited flamboyant haughty high-sounding imperious imposing inflated overblown pompous presumptuous pretentious proud

Antonyms

WEAK

adolescent baby babyish blah bland dull humble infant infantile itsy juvenile little selfish shy small tiny unconfident ungenerous ungiving unimportant

Usage

What are other ways to say big? In reference to the size and extent of concrete objects, big is the most general and most colloquial word, large is somewhat more formal, and great is highly formal and even poetic, suggesting also that the object is notable or imposing: a big tree; a large tree; a great oak; a big field; a large field; great plains. When the reference is to degree or a quality, great is the usual word: great beauty; great mistake; great surprise; although big sometimes alternates with it in colloquial style: a big mistake; a big surprise; large is usually not used in reference to degree, but may be used in a quantitative reference: a large number (great number).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Whey protein powder used to be a niche supplement sold in big jars to fitness mega-enthusiasts.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

The extra space, privacy and access to a kitchen make a big difference, especially on longer trips.

From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026

"The whole thing has been a big shock."

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Smithfield Hall will be big on U.S. games—but with 33 screens, it will also attract other contingents throughout the tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

“Do you think the marches made a difference—I mean in a big way. Did it make things better? Or about the same?”

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

Vocabulary lists containing big

Unknown Origins

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big

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing big

Unknown Origins