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 defensive line did a great job putting pressure on him,” Wilson-Turner added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
Dale Harvey said he was concerned it would add the noise from the A48 dual carriageway, saying the proposal was "not great".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Evans emerges as both a fierce defender of Holmes and a person with great influence over her.
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
“Didn’t you turn out to be a great big girl!”
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
But concern is the prevailing mood among the culinary greats gathered in Mexico.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
To mark its 50th anniversary, some of the costumes worn by those acting greats are on display.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
But, having recovered to reach career-best fitness, the next three years now provide him with the opportunity to cement himself among the all-time greats.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026
“The greats aren’t perfect. But they do learn from their mistakes.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
In my personal collection I have tapes by such old-time greats as Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Lotte Lehmann and Lisa Della Casa; that’ll give us something to discuss while I set up my Voigt-Kampff equipment.
From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
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
Ana has a greater tolerance for awkward than I do.
From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko
Solid white regions represent areas with the greatest ice coverage, while dark blue indicates open ocean.
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
PSG on 'different level' - are they building greatest European dynasty?
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Pandas don’t have many natural predators—their greatest danger continues to come from humans.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
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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