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.
See Examples For:
"There is a great deal of concern among the population, not just among the protesters today," economist Etienne de Callatay told AFP, as he attended the march.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
“Thank you so much to everyone here who I connected with for this piece, and who shared great resources,” I captioned the post.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2026
Consumers are still spending, but they don’t necessarily feel great about it.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 11, 2026
It could have been a moment of great jeopardy for power-sharing at Stormont.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
The adrenaline from saving the red-shoed girl was wearing off, and he’d spent a great deal of energy battling the pull of the Afterlife to make it back to the cottage.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Irrespective of that space for silverware on his CV, how highly does Kane rank in the pantheon of greats who have represented the England men's team?
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
“When I beat him, I’ll be one of the greats in this division, and then the next challenger will come and try to take the belt from me,” Van said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Despite his tough start on the international stage, Messi went on to become one of the all-time greats, winning the World Cup and two Copa America titles with Argentina.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
A poetic circle: Wynton followed the greats, and posthumously, they followed him back.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
For those looking for a good time, the State Street “Stroll,” between Twenty-Sixth and Thirty-Ninth Streets, offered a lively place to listen to the jazz greats and exchange the latest gossip.
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
This is exactly what can provide greater protection not only to Ukraine but also globally.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
The contrast to Renshaw's application could not have been greater.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Tens of thousands of people marched Sunday through the Belgian capital Brussels to the EU's headquarters to demand greater action to combat climate change ahead of a major UN summit.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
Insurers say the higher commissions reflect the complexity of the products, which require greater explanation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
The dark grew greater, the lights further apart.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Kipchoge is considered one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time, winning two Olympic marathon golds, plus a silver and bronze over 5000m.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
"My greatest honour is that these photos have been able to leave the borders of Gaza," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
So far this season the Chargers have the greatest negative point differential in the fourth quarter in the NFL.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026
From the greatest genre series to less obvious links, like the preposterous shenanigans at Paddy’s Pub, Serling left his mark on screens large and small, and on American audiences.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
The greatest of the Roman orators, Cicero was known for his long and carefully plotted sentences that did not reveal their full meaning until the very last word.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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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