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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:

Sure, the production has all the paraphernalia a major pop tour - big sets, plumes of smoke, inspired choreography - but there are long stretches where it's just Grande on stage with her band.

From BBC Aug. 16, 2026

Still, it illustrates the big opportunities for businesses that are willing to circumvent international sanctions.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 16, 2026

The cost of computer-related technology typically found in consumer products such as laptops, cell phones and routers has never been a big and growing part of household budgets — until now.

From MarketWatch Aug. 15, 2026

“It’s a big one,” manager Dave Roberts said of the series.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 15, 2026

There were twenty cook stations, each as big as his entire kitchen.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

It is GM, they say, that is the bigger overall contributor to the U.S. workforce, when factoring in salaried employees as well as hourly workers.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 15, 2026

“I’ll be a bigger hero than you ever were!”

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 15, 2026

One unquestionable element is its success in raising the low estimation of Green Lantern created by a particularly clumsy movie, simply by imagining possibilities in much bigger terms.

From Salon Aug. 14, 2026

Are your two advisers just trying to keep your money in stocks so they can increase your nest egg and profit off bigger management fees?

From MarketWatch Aug. 14, 2026

Fitzgerald, a boy younger but much bigger than me, was once challenged to run into The Woods and he got attacked by mad squirrels.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

The biggest spenders are those in their 60s.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 15, 2026

The biggest obstacles to President Trump’s order on vaccines may be the logistical challenges it poses for parents, health providers and drugmakers in the United States.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 15, 2026

In the biggest races in the sport, such as three-week Grand Tour the Tour de France, some stages take place on fully closed roads, but many World Tour events use a 'rolling roadblock'.

From BBC Aug. 15, 2026

The investment firm shifted away from some of the market’s biggest semiconductor winners in the second quarter.

From Barron's Aug. 15, 2026

We took it to the beach at night, and he aimed up at the biggest dot of light in the sky.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

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

When erthe appone erthe hase bigged vp his bourris, 12 Than schalle erthe for erthe suffire scharpe scowrrys5.

From Erthe Upon Erthe by Various

"Without bigging myself up, people have been knighted for less than that."

From BBC Dec. 11, 2025

Newey effectively worked only three days a week, Horner would say, bigging up the roles of Wache and the technical leadership team around him, especially head of aerodynamics Enrico Balbo.

From BBC Jul. 9, 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

No," said Argyll, "it was in Doom, the place of a small landowner, Lamond, whose castle—it is but a ramshackle old bigging now—you may have noticed on your left as you rode round.

From Doom Castle by Neil Munro




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