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:
This has triggered great excitement in the UK's small community of qualified fast jet test pilots.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
For those in that camp — who never give up hope that a great sketch is just a commercial break away — here’s what you can expect from the new season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
“I’m not trying to do a disservice to these other kids, they want to be great, too.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Although the market landscape may not look great, three factors that matter most to stock returns are broadly stronger than they were three months prior, according to Barclays.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
I could no longer even pray for family and friends by name, so great was the fear and longing wrapped around each one.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
He wrote essays and conducted oral interviews with UFW greats such as Hartmire and Gilbert Padilla who were essential to the union’s success.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
A poetic circle: Wynton followed the greats, and posthumously, they followed him back.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
BBC Sport takes a look at the statistics that put the former England white-ball captain among the greats of the T20 game, and the reasons behind his remarkable longevity.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
The funeral service was held at Sant'Ambrogio Basilica and club greats including Paolo Maldini, Marco van Basten, Clarence Seedorf, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Costacurta were in attendance.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
We’d watch the greats and talk about their style, technique, and interpretation.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
But under the constant watch of phone cameras and gossip that travels at the speed of social media feeds, they face greater pressures.
From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026
Data-center spending is greater than that for canals, railroads, and grid combined—creating jobs and stock-market wealth, while boosting inflation and crowding out housing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Researchers now hope to narrow down the Altar Stone's precise source in northeast Scotland and investigate in greater detail the routes prehistoric communities may have used to move it south.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 23, 2026
The report calls for firefighting water supplies to be recognised as a critical public safety requirement, for "greater accountability" for the water sector and for increased hydrant maintenance.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
His intensity seemed even greater than when he was playing a tournament or match game.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
"Playing for England has been the greatest honour I could have ever wished for and a dream come true."
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
The greatest value of AI comes from its ability to run wild.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
“We didn’t put together the greatest showing out there. But you’re a fool if you think that that’s what it’s going to look like every single week.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
"And protection must go beyond avoiding deforestation. Avoiding forest disturbances from wildfires or logging delivered the greatest benefits for forest biodiversity."
From Science Daily ● Sep. 21, 2026
This makes the vast ocean floor nothing less than the world’s greatest museum.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
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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