great
Usage
What are other ways to say great?
In reference to the size and extent of concrete objects, great is highly formal and even poetic, suggesting also that the object is notable or imposing, large is only somewhat formal, and big is the most general and most colloquial word: a great oak; a large tree; a big tree; great plains; a large field; a big field. 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.
Because your daughter did not need to use her dependent’s benefits for day-to-day activities, you were able to invest them to great effect.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
He started playing through West Ham's defensive line and hit a couple of great balls that got Arsenal in on goal.
From BBC • May 10, 2026
“It’s a great fit for us,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
“My high-school counselor was also my football coach and my driver’s ed teacher. He was a great guy but he wasn’t aware of the opportunities out there.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026
Through the trees, he glimpsed a great dark shadow in the wreck of the shelter.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Vocabulary lists containing great
Spelling Practice, Unit 8
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Spelling Practice, Unit 8
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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5
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