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.
"In 1994 the soccer market was very nascent in the US, and today we have thriving professional leagues, and some of the world's great stadiums," US Soccer chief executive JT Batson told BBC Sport.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Or can Messi's great rival, the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, defy father time by inspiring a talented Portugal team to its maiden World Cup win?
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
SpaceX is among the most widely held investments across colleges and universities, endowment executives say, likely making the rocket company’s coming IPO one of the great windfalls for American endowments.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
"It's all a great deal slower than in cancer research, for example."
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
Clare gathered himself from the floor and, with great effort against the howling wind, pushed his door shut.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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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