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:
The Fairchilds said Jeffrey, who would be 57 in December, was intelligent, well-read and had a great sense of humor, with a passion for creative writing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
With great humanity, “Ulysses S. Cat” makes the case for pets, not as toys or diversions, but as companions in joy, sorrow and all the rest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Using calipers, instruments designed to measure objects with great precision, the researchers compared the sizes of preserved crayfish.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Another great thing about Nashville is there’s no paparazzi,” she said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
‘I knew as soon as Hord told me about him. Only a Soul Eater could have trapped so great a demon.’
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Where he stands in that list of greats will be shaped by eras and opinions, according to former internationals Paul Robinson and Murphy.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Buttler is England's best white-ball batter of all-time, while Brook is on the way to being one of their greats.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
“When I beat him, I’ll be one of the greats in this division, and then the next challenger will come and try to take the belt from me,” Van said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
A poetic circle: Wynton followed the greats, and posthumously, they followed him back.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
We’d watch the greats and talk about their style, technique, and interpretation.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
This causes a greater contrast with the warmer tropics which can fire up a more potent jet stream - the fast moving, narrow band of fast winds high in the atmosphere.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
European leaders echoed the urgency for greater capacities.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
He cautioned in his prepared speech remarks that “great universities do not become greater by trying to do everything.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Other people put themselves at greater risk than I, in the sense that they came forward and appeared on camera.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
Here, with tougher terrain and with a much larger territory, Tao Tao faced greater challenges when it came to finding bamboo, water, and shelter.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
Existing therapies based on engineered T cells have achieved their greatest successes against certain blood cancers, but treating solid tumors has proven more difficult.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
"We're among the schools with the greatest needs so the students really need the most seasoned teachers."
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
Peters appears to be the person who has had the greatest access to Trump administration officials in recent months.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
While the largest absolute increases are expected in already vulnerable areas, including India's Garhwal and Kumaon regions and Nepal, the greatest relative increase is projected on the Tibetan Plateau.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Dressed in black as always, she was nevertheless suddenly young and girlish, eyes sparkling with joy at this greatest occasion the ten Booms had ever held.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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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