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:
Another told BBC Sport "it's been great", before quickly adding "it is great".
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
But that’s leading some locals to say, “It’s great that it’s here. It’s kind of bad that we’re the guinea pigs.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
It would be great if “The Hangover” screenwriters-turned-directors Jon Lucas and Scott Moore would leave moms well enough alone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Led by researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK, the new study suggests that a vast "great escarpment" formed about 800 million years ago as the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026
We would sit down at midday with all the other refugees in the great dining hall and eat good hot food.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
It takes over an hour for the whole procession to pass any one spot on the mountain, and they’re all but guaranteed to watch greats such as four-time champion Tadej Pogacar in full flow.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
"That's why you have some of the greats in women's sports. If Title IX and women's sports weren't protected, then you wouldn't hear about any type of women in sport."
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
After moving to Los Angeles, he became a favorite live and session player for many midcentury greats, including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Marvin Gaye.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands and Argentina greats Maradona and Lionel Messi following their dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Then, in the summer of 1954, Bobby had an opportunity to see in action some of the greats he’d been reading about.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
It advocated for greater freedoms and rule of law even as those notions fell increasingly out of favor with a populace willing to embrace a strongman ruler to end the post-Soviet economic malaise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026
Berney in his email offered to reimburse Afram’s company for the missing drive or create a new digital cinema package, but Afram said the damage was much greater than that, according to the lawsuit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Bessent’s action shows a desire by the Treasury Department to have greater control over market pricing.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
In a sane world he would provide answers that could facilitate greater understanding of his actions and motivations, and how he believes those actions will benefit the American people.
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026
When the potential energy in the fault becomes greater than the force, called friction, that holds the plates together, the top plate breaks free and springs upward.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
This week, Jamie Chisholm looked at research by analysts at Goldman Sachs who ranked 20 companies expected to see the greatest gains in productivity as they deploy AI.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
But the greatest threat they face, at least in terms of public opinion, is not outrage but indifference.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
Ms. Eubanks calls her failure to remain mentally healthy while giving J. the help he needed “the single greatest disappointment of my life.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
On Tuesday night, Nesbitt said his time as health minster had been "the greatest privilege of his political career".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
“The single greatest line I ever wrote as an analyst,” says Eisman, “was after Lomas said they were hedged.”
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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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