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.
But competition is pretty great among U.S. tech firms and, even more virulently, between U.S. firms and Chinese ones.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
"It was something they were all extremely excited about, from the shop manager who first found it, to higher up in head office, they've all followed this journey with great excitement," he said.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
Fixing our healthcare system won’t be easy, but PBM reform is a great place to start.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
Benjamin Graham, the great investor after whose book this newsletter is named, was a big believer in giving investors “something to do.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
She stood very erect and glared down at me as if I was the one who had caused the great disruption.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
