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Definitions

big

[big] / bɪg /






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.

See Examples For:

“We’re not the big guys, so they don’t see the value in us getting those discounts.”

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 22, 2026

Gold also climbed on the week, although its rally wasn’t nearly as big as bitcoin’s.

From MarketWatch Aug. 22, 2026

Fuel spills are also a concern, and several big Western shipping firms including France's CMA-CGM, Switzerland's MSC and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd have already pledged they will not use the Northern Sea Route.

From Barron's Aug. 22, 2026

“It is part of our responsibility to try to go after big bets that are hard,” he said to the crowd.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 22, 2026

“I know, I know,” she replies, rolling her big eyes.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

The allegations in these indictments apparently are that they went beyond exaggerating the threats and actually supported these organizations to make them bigger threats so they could then monitor them or do whatever they did.

From Slate Aug. 22, 2026

The modern leading man is simultaneously bigger, broader and more muscular than ever.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 22, 2026

But events outside the U.K. have been an even bigger driver of higher yields.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 21, 2026

The company's games have grown bigger and more complex since, with thousands of staff worldwide working on each one.

From BBC Aug. 21, 2026

At last, Amsterdam, even bigger than Haarlem, with its bewilderment of strange streets and canals.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

"They didn't create much, which was the biggest worry," legendary former United striker Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport.

From BBC Aug. 22, 2026

The Ebola virus has spread across Democratic Republic of Congo at a frightening speed and one of the authorities' biggest fears is that it reaches the teeming capital of Kinshasa.

From Barron's Aug. 22, 2026

The biggest hurdle facing the challengers may be the issue of standing.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 21, 2026

There’s little agreement about what has been the biggest driver of that move.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 21, 2026

But the biggest obstacle for Elisha was that Maggie worked as a spirit medium, “an obscure and ambiguous profession.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

I've bigged myself up about doing an Ironman, but now I'm starting to regret that!

From BBC Sep. 8, 2025

"We bigged him up before kick off for his technical abilities, and he has just shown them again here. This guy is an outstanding player."

From BBC Dec. 3, 2023

“This agreement has been bigged up as something that will be a solution to the world’s food shortage, and it is just not,” said Tracey Allen, an agricultural commodities strategist at JPMorgan Chase.

From New York Times Aug. 1, 2022

This album has been bigged up by professional critics over the age of 50, but they are all closet fans.

From The Guardian Jun. 24, 2020

Oh, Bessie Bell and Mary Grey, They were twa bonnie lasses; They bigged a bower on yon burn side, And theekt it over wi' rashes.

From The Trial by Charlotte Mary Yonge

"Eddie's been bigging me up, so I had to show what I'm about," said Bristol's Ayton, a flawless 21-0 as an amateur.

From BBC Jun. 21, 2025

The talk of their golden generation is about as misplaced as the chat about them bigging themselves up.

From BBC Mar. 7, 2025

Another massive performance and others aside from Sinfield might be bigging him up.

From Washington Times Oct. 19, 2023

GP I really don’t want it to sound like I’m bigging myself up.

From New York Times Dec. 9, 2021

He's thinking upon naething, like mony mighty men: A wee thing mak's us think, a sma' thing mak's us stare,— There are mair folk than him bigging castles in the air.

From The Home Book of Verse — Volume 1 by Burton Egbert Stevenson




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