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.
Donald Trump has the title and the great powers of the presidency.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
Multiple human-resources and recruiting professionals told MarketWatch that role-playing a salary negotiation with AI models is a great strategy for young workers, but added that this strategy can still help seasoned workers too.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
Scotland, Liverpool and Celtic great Sir Kenny Dalglish is undergoing treatment for cancer.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
Because when everybody’s like, “Oh great, we can go to Belarus or London.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
The Board of Education set great store by her.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Vocabulary lists containing great
Spelling Practice, Unit 8
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice, Unit 8
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
