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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.

Hartford—home to big insurance companies like Aetna—was once known as the insurance capital of the world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

It might not be the Bruins’ last chance to win the big dance, but it might be their best ever.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Brought in to replace club legend Kevin de Bruyne, Cherki had big boots to fill but the early signs suggest he can plug the hole left by the brilliant Belgian and his creativity.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

This week Thailand's second city, Chiang Mai, regularly topped the IQAir monitor website's most polluted big cities list.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

It was loaded with a big bag of flour, a huge silver mixing bowl, salt, buttermilk, and baking powder.

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

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.