great | American Dictionary
great adjective [-er/-est only]
(LARGE)
great adjective [-er/-est only]
(IMPORTANT)
great adjective [-er/-est only]
(GOOD)
greatness
great noun [C]
(IMPORTANT PERSON)
great- prefix
(FAMILIES)
(Definition of great from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
Examples of great
great
This may include planning a further move to housing offering a greater degree of shelter, or even greater reliance on families.
Thus, the spending of the new pesticide tax proceeds, to a great extent, would redistribute money from conventional to organic farming.
Specifically, the younger children might be expected to show greater phonetic sensitivity to the input than older children.
Seventy-eight per cent admitted that they would be more empathetic towards patients, with greater sensitivity to their psychological distress, in the future.
Both of these subscales are scored so that high scores indicate greater psychological well-being and vitality.
Correspondingly, men and women with the greatest burden of childcare responsibilities had increased risk of psychological distress, but this risk was significantly greater for men.
Work factors had a greater impact on class differences in psychological distress in men.
This strengthens the case for work factors having a greater impact on socioeconomic inequalities in psychological distress among men.
Questionnaire on priority assessment of patients referred to orthopedic surgeons showed great differences between reviewers.
Both maps illustrate in great detail the most modern, developed areas and iconic buildings, while the less densely inhabited areas were reduced in size.
Compared with the region’s previous combustible qualities, this was a great achievement.
It was most significant from the reported participation from over 25 countries worldwide that there is a great interest in the development of such methodologies.
This may indeed represent one of the events that triggered the great development of the dorsal pallium and associated structures in the mammalian radiation.
They will only be removed if growers appreciate the significance of compaction and exercise greater patience in organizing their planting schedule.
In this functional approach, the roles of language use and frequency receive greater emphasis.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Recent Examples on the Web
The three-story brick townhouse saw a great deal of activity: while the second floor of his home housed Woodson’s office and library, the basement served as a make-shift archives.
—
Regina Cole, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
There was a great deal of typing, finishing, and then stashing away the results.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2023
There remains a great deal of pride in these ships among those who work on and around them, as was apparent during a visit last month to the Mayport base near Jacksonville.
—Eric Lipton, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2023
After what one imagines was a great deal of humming and hawing, it is decided that this is a most agreeable tipple and deserves a name.
—Jason O’bryan, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2023
Waithe has had a great deal of success at the film festival over the years.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023
Due to the nature of inventory cleanout, sizes and color options may be limited, so don’t wait to make a move on a great deal.
—Nicola Fumo, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
These bouts, which have persisted into my 30s, have left me with a great deal of insecurity about my bare skin.
—Jessica Ourisman, Allure, 2 Feb. 2023
The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers Love a great deal?
—Cassie Shortsleeve, Travel + Leisure, 2 Feb. 2023
This tasty olive oil comes in a great-looking bottle and will elevate mom’s kitchen work, from rounding out charcuterie plates to adding a little extra depth to pasta dishes.
—Mark Stock, menshealth.com, 5 Apr. 2023
Comfortable, surprisingly nimble, great-looking, and engineered like a girder bridge, the Impala SS is a bonafide muscle machine.
—John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 30 Mar. 2023
Things were going great at first and my store was incredibly busy.
—Jasmine Leli, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2023
With that said, photo prints come out looking great and don’t suffer the banding that’s common on cheap printer cameras.
—Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2023
Pretty flowers count for a lot, but blooms that last a long time, flowers with ornamental seed heads, plants with great-looking foliage, those that thrive with little fuss, and pollinator-friendly plants are among the favorites of Test Garden manager Sandra Gerdes.
—Marty Ross, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2023
Braden Smith played great.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2023
These guys played great for us all year.
—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 5 Jan. 2023
Connected gadgets relying on Amazon’s network will do great here.
—WIRED, 28 Mar. 2023
Rollins, whose name has to be brought up in the conversation about pro wrestling’s current greats, continued his trend of delivering epic in-ring performances.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
One of the other greats produced by San Antonio is Ferris Fain, a first baseman for nine seasons and five-time All Star who also won two American League batting championships.
—Shepard Price, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2023
Being able to take on the song of another great is likely what landed McEntire back in the role of a mega-mentor for Blake Shelton on this season of The Voice, having joined him during his first season.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Mar. 2023
The Los Angeles dance event producer will host a crew of house and techno greats in locations around the city this summer, starting with Guy Gerbers’ Rumors event — which launched nine years ago in Ibiza — at Gin Ling Square in Chinatown on May 6.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2023
Print portraits of musical greats hang on the walls.
—Olivia Mccormack, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023
Hussain’s many recording partners over the years have included Harrison, Hart, the Kronos Quartet, Earth, Wind & Fire, Van Morrison, the National Symphony Orchestra, jazz sax greats Charles Lloyd and John Handy, the Mark Morris Dance Company and the late Indian music icon Ravi Shankar.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2023
That was just a pairing of two Hollywood greats.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2023
The Academy Awards’ In Memoriam forgot a few Hollywood greats.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘great.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
great
immense; notable; momentous; exalted; grand: a great performance
Not to be confused with:
grate – frame of metal bars; irritate; vex; irk; to have an irritating effect: His constant complaining grates on my nerves.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
great
(grāt)
adj. great·er, great·est
1.
a. Very large in size, extent, or intensity: a great pile of rubble; a great storm.
b. Of a larger size than other, similar forms: the great anteater.
c. Large in quantity or number: A great throng awaited us. See Synonyms at large.
d. Extensive in time or distance: a great delay; a great way off.
2.
a. Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent: a great crisis; great anticipation.
b. Of outstanding significance or importance: a great work of art.
c. Chief or principal: the great house on the estate.
d. Superior in quality or character; noble: a great man who dedicated himself to helping others.
e. Powerful; influential: one of the great nations of the West.
f. Eminent; distinguished: a great leader.
3. Informal
a. Very good; first-rate: We had a great time at the dance.
b. Very skillful: She is great at algebra.
c. Enthusiastic: a great lover of music.
4. Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination: a great-granddaughter.
5. Archaic Pregnant.
n.
1. pl. greats or great One that is great: a composer considered among the greats.
2. Music
a. A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.
b. A similar division of other organs.
adv. Informal
1. Very well: got along great with the teacher.
2. Used as an intensive with certain adjectives: a great big kiss.
[Middle English grete, from Old English grēat, thick, coarse.]
great′ly adv.
great′ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
great
(ɡreɪt)
adj
1. relatively large in size or extent; big
2. relatively large in number; having many parts or members: a great assembly.
3. of relatively long duration: a great wait.
4. of larger size or more importance than others of its kind: the great auk.
5. extreme or more than usual: great worry.
6. of significant importance or consequence: a great decision.
7.
a. of exceptional talents or achievements; remarkable: a great writer.
b. (as noun): the great; one of the greats.
8. arising from or possessing idealism in thought, action, etc; heroic: great deeds.
9. illustrious or eminent: a great history.
10. impressive or striking: a great show of wealth.
11. much in use; favoured: poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.
12. active or enthusiastic: a great walker.
13. doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale: what a great buffoon; he’s not a great one for reading.
14. (often foll by at) skilful or adroit: a great carpenter; you are great at singing.
15. informal excellent; fantastic
16. informal Brit (intensifier): a dirty great smack in the face.
17. archaic
a. pregnant: great with child.
b. full (of): great with hope.
18. (intensifier, used in mild oaths): Great Scott!.
19. be great on informal
a. to be informed about
b. to be enthusiastic about or for
adv
informal very well; excellently: it was working great.
n
(Instruments) Also called: great organ the principal manual on an organ. Compare choir4, swell16
[Old English grēat; related to Old Frisian grāt, Old High German grōz; see grit, groat]
ˈgreatly adv
ˈgreatness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
great
(greɪt)
adj. great•er, great•est, adj.
1. unusually or comparatively large in size or dimensions; big.
2. large in number; numerous: great herds of buffalo.
3. unusual or considerable in degree, power, intensity, etc.: great pain.
4. first-rate; excellent: to have a great time.
5. being such in an extreme or notable degree: great friends.
6. notable; remarkable: a great occasion.
7. important; highly significant: the great issues in American history.
8. distinguished; famous: a great inventor.
9. of noble or lofty character: great thoughts.
10. chief or principal: the great hall.
11. of high rank or social standing: a great lady.
12. much in use or favor: “Humor” was a great word with the old physiologists.
13. of extraordinary powers; having unusual merit: a great statesman.
14. of marked duration or length: to wait a great while.
15. Informal.
a. enthusiastic about some specified activity (usu. fol. by on or for): He’s great on poetry.
b. skillful; expert (usu. fol. by at): She’s great at golf.
16. being of one generation more remote from the family relative specified (used in combination): a great-grandson.
adv.
17. Informal. very well: Things have been going great for him.
n.
18. a person who has achieved importance or distinction in a field: She is one of the theater’s greats.
19. great persons, collectively: England’s literary great.
interj.
20. (used to express acceptance, appreciation, approval, admiration, etc.).
[before 900; Middle English greet, Old English grēat, c. Old Frisian grāt, Old Saxon grōt, Old High German grōz]
great′ly, adv.
great′ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
big
– large – great
Big, large, and great are used to talk about size. They can all be used in front of countable nouns, but only great can be used in front of uncountable nouns.
1. describing objects
Big, large, and great can all be used to describe objects. Big is the word you usually use in conversation. Large is more formal. Great is used in stories to show that something is very impressive because of its size.
‘Where is Mark?’ – ‘Over there, by that big tree.’
The driver swerved to avoid a large tree.
A great tree had fallen across the river.
2. describing amounts
When you are describing amounts, you usually use large.
She made a very large amount of money.
They export large quantities of corn.
Be Careful!
Don’t use ‘big’ to describe amounts. Don’t say, for example, ‘She made a very big amount of money‘.
3. describing feelings
When you are describing feelings or reactions, you usually use great.
He has great hopes for the future.
It was a great relief when we finally got home.
When surprise is a countable noun, you can use either big or great in front of it.
The announcement was a big surprise.
It will be no great surprise if Ryan wins.
Don’t use ‘large’ to describe feelings or reactions.
4. describing problems
When you are describing a problem or danger, you use big or great.
The biggest problem at the moment is unemployment.
Many species are in great danger.
Don’t use ‘large’ to describe a problem or danger.
5. showing importance
Great is used to say that a person or place is important or famous.
He was one of the greatest engineers of this century.
We visited the great cities of Europe.
6. used with other adjectives
In conversation, you can use great and big together in order to emphasize the size of something. You always put great first.
There was a great big hole in the road.
Be Careful!
You can say that someone is in great pain, but you don’t usually use ‘big’, ‘large’, or ‘great’ to describe an illness. Instead you use adjectives such as bad, terrible, or severe.
He’s off work with a bad cold.
I started getting terrible headaches.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | great — a person who has achieved distinction and honor in some field; «he is one of the greats of American music»
achiever, succeeder, winner, success — a person with a record of successes; «his son would never be the achiever that his father was»; «only winners need apply»; «if you want to be a success you have to dress like a success» |
| Adj. | 1. | great — relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind; «a great juicy steak»; «a great multitude»; «the great auk»; «a great old oak»; «a great ocean liner»; «a great delay»
big, large — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent; «a large city»; «set out for the big city»; «a large sum»; «a big (or large) barn»; «a large family»; «big businesses»; «a big expenditure»; «a large number of newspapers»; «a big group of scientists»; «large areas of the world» |
| 2. | great — of major significance or importance; «a great work of art»; «Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th centurey»
outstanding important, of import — of great significance or value; «important people»; «the important questions of the day» |
|
| 3. | great — remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect; «a great crisis»; «had a great stake in the outcome»
extraordinary — beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable; «extraordinary authority»; «an extraordinary achievement»; «her extraordinary beauty»; «enjoyed extraordinary popularity»; «an extraordinary capacity for work»; «an extraordinary session of the legislature» |
|
| 4. |  great — very good; «he did a bully job»; «a neat sports car»; «had a great time at the party»; «you look simply smashing»
bang-up, bully, corking, cracking, dandy, groovy, nifty, not bad, peachy, slap-up, smashing, swell, keen, neat colloquialism — a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech good — having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; «good news from the hospital»; «a good report card»; «when she was good she was very very good»; «a good knife is one good for cutting»; «this stump will make a good picnic table»; «a good check»; «a good joke»; «a good exterior paint»; «a good secretary»; «a good dress for the office» |
|
| 5. | great — uppercase; «capital A»; «great A»; «many medieval manuscripts are in majuscule script»
majuscule, capital uppercase — relating to capital letters which were kept in the top half of a compositor’s type case; «uppercase letters; X and Y and Z etc» |
|
| 6. |  great — in an advanced stage of pregnancy; «was big with child»; «was great with child»
enceinte, gravid, with child, expectant, large, big, heavy pregnant — carrying developing offspring within the body or being about to produce new life |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
great
adjective
1. large, big, huge, vast, enormous, extensive, tremendous, immense, gigantic, mammoth, bulky, colossal, prodigious, stupendous, voluminous, elephantine, ginormous (informal), humongous or humungous (U.S. slang), GR8 (S.M.S.) a great hall as long and high as a church
large little, small, diminutive
3. major, lead, leading, chief, main, capital, grand, primary, principal, prominent, superior, paramount, big-time (informal), major league (informal), GR8 (S.M.S.) the great cultural achievements of the past
4. important, serious, significant, critical, crucial, heavy, grave, momentous, weighty, consequential, GR8 (S.M.S.) his pronouncements on the great political matters of the age
important petty, trivial, insignificant, unimportant, inconsequential, inconsiderable
5. famous, celebrated, outstanding, excellent, remarkable, distinguished, prominent, glorious, notable, renowned, eminent, famed, illustrious, exalted, noteworthy, GR8 (S.M.S.) the great American president, Abraham Lincoln
6. expert, skilled, talented, skilful, good, able, masterly, crack (slang), superb, world-class, adept, stellar (informal), superlative, proficient, adroit, GR8 (S.M.S.) He was one of the West Indies’ greatest cricketers.
expert inexperienced, unskilled, untrained
7. (Informal) excellent, good, fine, wonderful, mean (slang), topping (Brit. slang), cracking (Brit. informal), superb, fantastic (informal), tremendous (informal), marvellous (informal), terrific (informal), mega (slang), sovereign, awesome (slang), dope (slang), admirable, first-rate, def (informal), brill (informal), boffo (slang), bitchin’, chillin’ (U.S. slang), GR8 (S.M.S.) It’s a great film, you must see it.
excellent poor, average, secondary, inferior, second-rate, undistinguished, unnotable
9. utter, complete, total, absolute, perfect, positive, downright, consummate, unqualified, out-and-out, flagrant, egregious, unmitigated, thoroughgoing, arrant, GR8 (S.M.S.) You stupid great git!
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
great
adjective
1. Notably above average in amount, size, or scope:
2. Widely known and esteemed:
celebrated, distinguished, eminent, famed, famous, illustrious, notable, noted, preeminent, prestigious, prominent, redoubtable, renowned.
3. Informal. Exceptionally good of its kind:
ace, banner, blue-ribbon, brag, capital, champion, excellent, fine, first-class, first-rate, prime, quality, splendid, superb, superior, terrific, tiptop, top.
4. Informal. Particularly excellent:
divine, fabulous, fantastic, fantastical, glorious, marvelous, sensational, splendid, superb, terrific, wonderful.
5. Archaic. Carrying a developing fetus within the uterus:
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
عَظيمعَظِيمعَظيم، كثيرعَظيم، ماهِر، ذكيعَظيم، مُمْتِع جِدا
skvělývelkývýznamnýohromnývynikající
storsupervigtigbetydningsfulddejlig
hienomahtavasuuri
odličanvelikznačajan
frábær, stórkostlegurklár, flinkurmikillmikill, stórkostlegurstór, mikill
すごい優れた大きな素晴らしい
매우 좋은중요한큰
didelisdidžiai
dižsievērojamsizcilslielisksliels
doberpomembenvelikveliko
izvrstanodličan
storunderbar
ดีมากยิ่งใหญ่สำคัญ
quan trọngto lớntuyệt vời
great
[greɪt]
A. ADJ (greater (compar) (greatest (superl)))
1. (= huge) (in size) [house, room, object] → enorme, inmenso; (in amount, number) [effort, variety] → grande; [shock, surprise] → verdadero, enorme
she lived to a great age → vivió hasta una edad muy avanzada
I’ll take great care of it → lo cuidaré mucho
he didn’t say a great deal → no dijo mucho
a great deal of time/money/effort → mucho tiempo/dinero/esfuerzo
a great deal of suffering → mucho sufrimiento
with great difficulty → con gran or mucha dificultad
we had great difficulty convincing them → hemos tenido muchas dificultades para convencerlos
he had great difficulty staying awake → le costaba mucho mantenerse despierto
to a great extent → en gran parte
to an even greater extent → incluso en mayor parte
we had great fun → lo pasamos fenomenal
great heavens! (o.f.) → ¡Cielo Santo! (o.f.), ¡Válgame el cielo!
to be a great help → ser de gran ayuda
well, you’ve been a great help! (iro) → ¡vaya ayuda la tuya!, ¡pues sí que has sido una ayuda!
I’m in no great hurry, I’m not in any great hurry → no tengo mucha prisa
you great idiot! → ¡pedazo de idiota!
a great many people believe he was right → mucha gente cree que tenía razón
a great many of us are uneasy about these developments → a muchos de nosotros estos sucesos nos tienen intranquilos
it was a great pity you didn’t come → fue una verdadera pena que no vinieses
with great pleasure → con gran placer
it’s my great pleasure to introduce → es un gran placer para mí presentar a …
great progress has been made → se han hecho grandes progresos
great Scott! (o.f.) → ¡Cielo Santo! (o.f.), ¡Válgame el cielo!
the concert was a great success → el concierto fue un enorme éxito
see also guns A1
B. EXCL
1. (= excellent) (oh) great! → ¡fenómeno!, ¡fenomenal!, ¡qué bien!
2. (iro) (oh) great! that’s all I need! → ¡maravilloso! ¡eso es lo que me faltaba!
if that’s what you want to believe, great! → si es eso lo que quieres creer, allá tú
E. CPD great ape N → antropoide mf
the Great Australian Bight N → el Gran Golfo Australiano
the Great Barrier Reef N → la Gran Barrera de Coral, el Gran Arrecife Coralino
the Great Bear N (Astron) → la Osa Mayor
Great Britain N → Gran Bretaña f
Great Dane N → gran danés m
the Great Dividing Range N → la Gran Cordillera Divisoria
the Great Lakes NPL → los Grandes Lagos
the Great Plains NPL → las Grandes Llanuras
the great powers NPL → las grandes potencias
great tit N → paro m grande, herrerillo m grande
the Great Wall of China N → la (Gran) Muralla China
the Great War N → la Primera Guerra Mundial
GREAT, BIG, LARGE
«Grande» shortened to «gran»
• Grande must be shortened to gran before a singular noun of either gender:
Great Britain (La) Gran Bretaña
Position of «grande»
• Put gran/grandes before the noun in the sense of «great»:
It’s a great step forward in the search for peace Es un gran paso en la búsqueda de la paz He is a (very) great actor Es un gran actor
• In the sense of big or large, the adjective will precede the noun in the context of a general, subjective comment. However, when there is implicit or explicit comparison with other things or people that are physically bigger or smaller, it will follow the noun:
It’s a big problem Es un gran problema …the difference in price between big flats and small ones… …la diferencia de precio entre los pisos grandes y pequeños… …a certain type of large passenger plane… …cierto tipo de avión grande para el transporte de pasajeros…
• Compare the following examples:
…a great man… …un gran hombre… …a big man… …un hombre grande…
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
great
[ˈgreɪt]
adj
[extent] → large
to a greater or lesser degree → plus ou moins
To a greater or lesser extent, they are all damp → Ils sont tous plus ou moins humides.
Flights were disrupted to a greater or lesser degree
BUT Pratiquement tous les vols ont été affectés d’une manière ou d’une autre.
(= outstanding) [artist, writer, scientist, athlete] → grand(e); [work, novel, picture] → grand(e); [city] → grand(e); [success, achievement] → grand(e)
[difficulty, risk, danger] → grand(e)
(= firm)
They’re great friends → Ils sont très amis., Ce sont de grands amis.
to be a great believer in sth → croire beaucoup en qch
to be a great supporter of sth → être un(e) partisan(e) convaincu(e) de qch
(= excellent) → vraiment bien (= cool) → génial(e), super
That’s great! → C’est génial!, C’est super!
I feel great → Je me sens en pleine forme.
to have a great time → bien s’amuser
We had a great time → Nous nous sommes bien amusés.
the great thing is that … → ce qu’il y a de vraiment bien c’est que …
oh great! (humorous)
Oh great! Just what I need → Génial! J’avais vraiment besoin de ça.
n
(= outstanding figure) → grand(e) m/f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
great
interj (inf) → toll (inf), → super (inf); oh great (iro) → na wunderbar; if that’s what they want to believe, great → wenn sie das glauben wollen, dann sollen sie doch
adv
(inf: = well) she’s doing great (in job) → sie macht sich hervorragend; (healthwise) → sie macht große Fortschritte; everything’s going great → alles läuft nach Plan
n
pl the great → die Großen pl; the great and the good → die Prominenz
usu pl (= person) → Größe f; the greats (= stars) → die Größen pl; one of the all-time greats → einer der Größten aller Zeiten; the golfing/literary greats → die Golfgrößen/literarischen Größen
great
:
Great Barrier Reef
n the great → das Große Barriereriff
great calorie
n → Kilokalorie f
Great Divide
n (US) the great → die Rocky Mountains pl; (fig: = death) → die Schwelle des Todes (liter); the great divide between … → der Abgrund zwischen … (dat)
Great Dividing Range
n the great → die Ostaustralischen Kordilleren pl
great
:
great-great-grandchild
n → Ururenkel(in) m(f)
great-great-grandparents
pl → Ururgroßeltern pl
great
:
Great Plains
pl the great → die Great Plains pl, → die Großen Ebenen pl
Great White Way
n the great (esp US inf) → das Theaterviertel am Broadway
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
great
(greit) adjective
1. of a better quality than average; important. a great writer; Churchill was a great man.
2. very large, larger etc than average. a great crowd of people at the football match.
3. of a high degree. Take great care of that book.
4. very pleasant. We had a great time at the party.
5. clever and expert. John’s great at football.
ˈgreatly adverb
I was greatly impressed by her singing.
ˈgreatness noun
her greatness as an athlete.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
great
→ عَظِيم, هامّ skvělý, velký, významný fantastisk, stor groß, schön, toll εξαιρετικός, εξέχων, σπουδαίος genial, gran, grande, importante, sensacional hieno, mahtava, suuri grand, super, très bien odličan, velik, značajan fantastico, grande 優れた, 大きな, 素晴らしい 매우 좋은, 중요한, 큰 belangrijk, enorm, geweldig fin, flott, stor świetny, wielki, wspaniały enorme, fantástico, grande, importante, ótimo важнейший, замечательный, огромный stor, underbar ดีมาก, ยิ่งใหญ่, สำคัญ büyük, harika, iyi quan trọng, to lớn, tuyệt vời 伟大的, 重要的, 非常好的
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
great
a. grande, grandioso-a;
in ___ detail → muy minucioso;
it is going ___ → todo va muy bien.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
- I’ve had a great time
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
750 Synonyms for Great and Antonyms of GREAT (Infographic)
Great (Adjective)
What’s the synonym of great? Or another word for great?
Great is such a versatile word that you can use it almost everywhere. We determined 100+ synonyms for this word. Today I’d like to present to you a few greatest synonyms of great and example sentences.
We all know that synonyms are similar words with different words meanings. However, many people don’t know those similar words exist and how they can use them in their content to make it easier to read, attract more readers, and stay interested in your content.
Need synonyms for great? Here’s a big list of similar words from Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus that you can use instead. Good luck as you learn new synonyms listed below
Synonyms & Antonyms of great
1 Exhibiting an expert grasp of a subject, highly skilled or knowledgeable
For example:
- One of the great physicians
- She is one of the theater’s greats.
Synonyms for great
Expert, master, virtuoso, experienced, masterly, practised (also practised), adept, masterful, veteran, skilled, crack, good, professed, accomplished, complete, versed, compleat, ace, proficient, consummate, skilful, crackerjack, educated
Words Related to great
Long-term, sure-handed, clever, qualified, fit, workmanlike, gifted, taught, fitted, schooled, employable, habile, talented, competent, efficient, adroit, old, slick, capable, dexterous (also dextrous), multitalented, deft, multiskilled, effective, all-around (also all-round), refined, able, handy, tutored, well-rounded, knowledgeable, effectual, trained, polished
Near Antonyms for great
Inexperienced, rude, untalented, unfit, inept, ignorant, incompetent, untried, heavy-handed, clumsy, talentless, awkward, untested, would-be, ineffective, primitive, ham-handed, ungifted, beginning, raw, ham-fisted, unable, rough, untrained, untaught, unqualified, new, weak, crude, unschooled, unpolished, unfitted, untutored, artless, green, unseasoned, inefficient, ineffectual, incapable
Antonyms for great
Inexpert, inexperienced, amateurish, unseasoned, unskillful, unskilled, amateur, jackleg, unprofessional
2 Having, characterized by or arising from a dignified and generous nature
For example:
- great acts of charity
- a great humanitarian
Synonyms for great
Gallant, high, greathearted, big, noble, chivalrous, elevated, magnanimous, sublime, lordly, lofty, high-minded, natural, great thesaurus
Words Related to great
Heroic (also heroical), glorified, august, ennobled, exalted, uplifting, majestic, inspiring, honourable, valiant, magnificent, worthy, numinous, venerable, regal, knightly, moving, princely
Near Antonyms for great
Sordid, humiliating, offensive, lousy, discreditable, ignominious, small-minded, sorry, abominable, coarse, degrading, little, squalid, narrow, dirty, vulgar, wretched, hateful, dastardly, ugly, vile, mean, crude, despicable, vicious, contemptible, repulsive, detestable
Antonyms for great
Ignoble, base, debased, low, degraded, degenerate
3 Lasting for a considerable time
For example:
- Haven’t seen them in a great while
Synonyms for great
Long-drawn-out (or long-drawn), extended, long-lived, far, long-term, lengthy, long, marathon
Words Related to great
Longish, everlasting, interminable, protracted, endless, all-day, aeonian (or aeonic), multiyear, prolonged, persistent, multiday, overlong, permanent, all-night
Near Antonyms for great
Transient, transitory,abbreviated,ephemeral, curtailed, momentary, shortened, condensed, fleeting, sudden,short-range,abrupt,impermanent
Antonyms for great
Short, shortish, little, short-term, short-lived, mini, brief
4 Of a size greater than average of its kind
For example:
- saw a great moose calmly walking through our backyard
- There’s also an influx of counterfeit cheaper whiskies seeping into the markets, which could pose an even greater challenge, albeit less of a headline-grabbing one.
Synonyms for great
Husky, boxcar, goodly, bulky, biggish, large, voluminous, substantial, handsome, hefty, hulking, grand, largish, sizable (or sizeable), oversize (or oversized), outsize (also outsized), tidy, considerable, big
Words Related to great
Gargantuan, super-duper, elephantine, cosmic (also cosmical), whacking, inordinate, thick, herculean, whopping, stupendous, major, staggering, prodigious, astronomical (also astronomic), humongous (also humungous), commodious, Brobdingnagian, Himalayan, exorbitant, bumper, fat, walloping, spacious, monumental, Bunyanesque, supersized, pharaonic, plentiful, super, titanic, massive, appreciable, excessive, cavernous, monolithic, abundant, galactic, vast, monstrous, enormous, heroic (also heroical), gigantic, jumbo, roomy, leviathan, hellacious, cyclopean, tremendous, immense, king-size (or king-sized), vasty, gross, capacious, extreme, immoderate, mammoth, extravagant, mountainous, ample, copious, huge, colossal
Near Antonyms for great
Pocket-size (also pocket-sized), wee, teensy, pint-size (or pint-sized), little bitty, pygmy, diminutive, minuscule, teeny-weeny, slight, slender, teeny, microscopic (also microscopical), mini, Lilliputian, teensy-weensy, minute, slim, tiny, microminiature, miniature, half-pint, thin, petite, infinitesimal
Antonyms for great
Dinky, undersized (also undersize), smallish, dwarfish, shrimpy, little, puny, bantam, dwarf, small
5 of the very best kind
For example:
- This cake is great!
Synonyms for great
Nifty, groovy, righteous [slang], blue-chip, down [slang], corking, cracking, blue-ribbon, banner, first-rate, brag, gangbusters (also gangbuster), fab, peachy, fine, prize, top-of-the-line, gilt-edged (or gilt-edge), terrific, capital, heavenly, topflight, prime, bully, famous, numero uno, fantabulous [slang], awesome, swell, superb, dandy, excellent, stellar, choice, quality, neat, grand, superior, noble, prizewinning, phat [slang], crackerjack, top, primo [slang], dynamite, lovely, fantastic, first-class, unsurpassed, divine, boffo, beautiful, number one (also No. 1), out-of-sight [slang], bang-up, peachy keen, sterling, splendid, wizard [chiefly British], immense, cool [slang], topping [chiefly British], bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], boss [slang], classic, wonderful, radical [slang], superlative, five-star, slick, hot, top-notch, brave,A-OK, marvelous (or marvellous), bumper, gone [slang], tip-top, hype [slang], sensational, first-string, A1, keen, mean, dope [slang], supernal, fabulous, top-shelf, par excellence, frontline, jim-dandy, high-class, four-star
Words Related to great
Premium, decent, superfine, better, tolerable, high-test, acceptable, traditional, OK (or okay), special, standard, all right, classical, fancy, exceptional, passable, select, satisfactory, adequate, good, high-grade
Phrases Synonymous with great
Too much, out of this world
Near Antonyms for great
Substandard, second-rate, unsatisfactory, second-class,mediocre, low-grade, inferior,bad, middling
Antonyms for great
Lousy, rotten, vile, wretched, atrocious, poor, pathetic, awful, terrible, execrable
6 Showing urgent desire or interest
For example:
- she’s great on any type of sport that requires endurance
Synonyms for great
Enthusiastic, hungry, pumped, nuts, voracious, geeked [slang], crazy, raring, ardent, excited, athirst, agog, wild, enthused, solicitous, desirous, hepped up, gung ho, impatient, avid, anxious, greedy, antsy, juiced, eager, thirsty, hot, keen, stoked [slang], hopped-up
Words Related to great
Disposed, amenable, hankering, pining, restless, longing, inclined, hung up, ready, glad, engaged, craving, game, covetous, appetent, unreluctant, willing, interested, obsessed, ambitious, breathless, restive, happy
Phrases Synonymous with great
Chomping at the bit, champing at the bit
Near Antonyms for great
Languid, insouciant, uninterested, unwilling, unconcerned, lukewarm, halfhearted, disinterested, nonchalant, lackadaisical, averse, detached, spiritless, stolid, incurious, reluctant, impassive, loath (also loth or loathe), disinclined, casual, aloof, languorous, hesitant
Antonyms for great
Indifferent, uneager, apathetic, unenthusiastic
7 Coming before all others in importance
For example:
- Regards global warming as the great issue of the day
- Along with Noma chef René Redzepi, Puglisi is a groundbreaking chef of new Nordic Cuisine, which turned Copenhagen into one of the world’s greatest dining destinations
Synonyms for great
Primal, arch, cardinal, sovereign (also sovran), paramount, overbearing, overmastering, capital, numero uno, dominant, preeminent, greatest, predominant, big, master, central, overriding, grand, number one (also No. 1), primary, prior, premier, key, principal, first, leading, main, highest, chief, supreme, foremost
Words Related to great
Famed, distinguished, illustrious, outstanding, celebrated, signal, momentous, influential, high-level, incomparable, superior, top, matchless, prestigious, noteworthy, important, senior, renowned, star, unsurpassed, noble, mighty, notable, major, famous, unequalled (or unequalled), stellar, unparalleled, eminent, significant
Near Antonyms for great
Slight, subsidiary, minor, negligible, inferior, insignificant, secondary, inconsiderable, unimportant, subordinate, collateral, inconsequential, trifling, trivial
Antonyms for great
least, last
8 Of high birth, rank, or station
For example:
- A descendant of one of the great families of Philadelphia
Synonyms for great
Silk-stocking, noble, highborn, gentle, aristocratic, highbred, patrician, grand, genteel, upper-class, blue-blooded, upper-crust, wellborn
Words Related to great
Lofty, high-level, ladylike, royal, high, queenly, lordly, kingly, exalted, elevated, princely, knightly, senior, regal, gentlemanly, superior, ennobled
Near Antonyms for great
Abased, subordinate, plain, ordinary, bastard, degraded, junior, knavish, illegitimate, inferior
Antonyms for great
common, lower-class, plebeian, nonaristocratic, low, lowly, baseborn, ungenteel, ignoble, humble, mean
Great (Adverb)
Synonyms & Antonyms of great
In a pleasing way
For example:
- The game was going great for the home team
Synonyms for great
Winningly, gloriously, sweetly, nicely, pleasurably, welcomely, favourably, well, splendidly, felicitously, palatably, pleasingly, delectably, charmingly, dreamily, gratifyingly, delightfully, enjoyably, satisfyingly, enchantingly, swimmingly, pleasantly, deliciously, prettily, agreeably, fetchingly
Words Related to great
Enticingly, appealingly, marvellously, excellently, handsomely, beautifully, happily, finely, superbly, invitingly, magnificently, temptingly, sensationally, wonderfully, helpfully, appetizingly, advantageously, luckily, blessedly, grandly, attractively, fortunately
Near Antonyms for great
irritatingly, horrendously, distressingly, vexingly, horridly, abominably, sickeningly, shockingly, disgustingly, awfully, annoyingly, terribly, horribly, vilely, appallingly, dreadfully
Antonyms for great
ill, disagreeably, badly, unpleasantly
Final thoughts
The word great is great, and the article provided a big list of useful synonyms. A lot of words people use to describe something good sound flaky, but this one doesn’t. It’s simple and direct. Also, the meaning of great changes is based on what it describes.
If you say your day was great, you could mean that you are having a great time today while living in your apartment and not working. If your thesis defense was great, you could mean someone cried, and your advisor almost passed out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What word can I use instead of great?
People often use “good” as a lazy replacement for a more appropriate word. Custom Writing has created an excellent infographic that lists 200 words you can use instead of “good”. For instance, to describe the taste, use “scrumptious” or “delicious”. To describe a performance, use “stellar” or “captivating”
What’s a fancy word for good?
Great, satisfying, exceptional, positive, acceptable, satisfactory, valuable, superb, marvellous, bad, wonderful, favourable, excellent, respectable, honest, useful, talented, efficient, reliable, able.
What’s a big word for great?
Excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate. Abundant, ample, appreciable, copious, plentiful. fat, thick. Capacious, commodious, roomy, spacious
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adjective, great·er, great·est.
unusually or comparatively large in size or dimensions: A great fire destroyed nearly half the city.
large in number; numerous: Great hordes of tourists descend on Europe each summer.
unusual or considerable in degree, power, intensity, etc.: great pain.
wonderful; very good; first-rate: We had a great time.That’s great!
being such in an extreme or notable degree: great friends;a great talker.
highly significant or consequential; important: the great issues in American history.
of noble or lofty character: great thoughts.
chief or principal: the great hall; his greatest novel.
of high rank, official position, or social standing: a great noble.
much in use or favor: “Humor” was a great word with the old physiologists.
of extraordinary powers; having unusual merit; very admirable: a great statesman.
of considerable duration or length: We waited a great while for the train.
Informal.
- enthusiastic about some specified activity (usually followed by at, for, or on): He’s great on reading poetry aloud.
- skillful; expert (usually followed by at or on): He’s great at golf.
being of one generation more remote from the family relative specified (used in combination): a great-grandson.
adverb
Informal. very well: Things have been going great for him.
noun, plural greats, (especially collectively) great.
a person who has achieved importance or distinction in a field: She is one of the theater’s greats.
great persons, collectively: England’s literary great.
(often initial capital letter)greats, (used with a singular verb)Also called great go. British Informal.
- the final examination for the bachelor’s degree in the classics and mathematics, or Literae Humaniores, especially at Oxford University and usually for honors.
- the course of study.
- the subject studied.
interjection
(used to express acceptance, appreciation, approval, admiration, etc.).
(used ironically or facetiously to express disappointment, annoyance, distress, etc.): Great! We just missed the last train home.
QUIZ
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Idioms about great
great with child, being in the late stages of pregnancy.
Origin of great
First recorded before 900; Middle English greet, Old English grēat; cognate with Dutch groot, German gross
OTHER WORDS FROM great
great·ness, nounhalf-great, adjectiveo·ver·great, adjectiveo·ver·great·ly, adverb
qua·si-great, adjectivequa·si-great·ly, adverb
Words nearby great
greasies, greasy, greasy goal, greasy spoon, greasy wool, great, great ape, Great Attractor, great auk, great-aunt, Great Australian Bight
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say great?
Something that is great may be unusually or comparatively large in size or number. How is great different from the adjectives large and big? Find out more on Thesaurus.com.
Words related to great
big, considerable, enormous, extreme, high, huge, immense, strong, tremendous, vast, excellent, famous, fine, glorious, grand, heroic, impressive, major, outstanding, remarkable
How to use great in a sentence
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Along with Noma chef René Redzepi, Puglisi is a groundbreaking chef of new Nordic Cuisine, which turned Copenhagen into one of the world’s greatest dining destinations.
-
There’s also an influx of counterfeit cheaper whiskies seeping into the markets, which could pose an even greater challenge, albeit less of a headline-grabbing one.
-
In 2012, 85 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of Democrats said the United States was the greatest nation.
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“China is a great nation, and we should hope for the continued expansion.”
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Florida’s way down, Texas is now way down, Arizona, governor’s done a great job.
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Tend to your own garden, to quote the great sage of free speech, Voltaire, and invite people to follow your example.
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It would became one of the first great mysteries in the United States of America, as it was only then 23 years old.
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Unfortunately, this is more about protecting the legacy of a ‘great man.’
-
Great American leaders have long contributed profound thoughts of tremendous consequence to the public discourse.
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“He turned pale, trembled to a great degree, was much agitated, and began to cry,” she told the court.
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«Capital, capital,» his lordship would remark with great alacrity, when there was no other way of escape.
-
I waited three months more, in great impatience, then sent him back to the same post, to see if there might be a reply.
-
After a minute’s pause, while he stood painfully silent, she resumed in great emotion.
-
The country is well inhabited, for it contains fifty-one cities, near a hundred walled towns, and a great number of villages.
-
This is a feature by means of which it is always possible to distinguish the Great Horsetail from any other species.
British Dictionary definitions for great (1 of 2)
adjective
relatively large in size or extent; big
relatively large in number; having many parts or membersa great assembly
of relatively long durationa great wait
of larger size or more importance than others of its kindthe great auk
extreme or more than usualgreat worry
of significant importance or consequencea great decision
- of exceptional talents or achievements; remarkablea great writer
- (as noun)the great; one of the greats
arising from or possessing idealism in thought, action, etc; heroicgreat deeds
illustrious or eminenta great history
impressive or strikinga great show of wealth
much in use; favouredpoetry was a great convention of the Romantic era
active or enthusiastica great walker
doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scalewhat a great buffoon; he’s not a great one for reading
(often foll by at) skilful or adroita great carpenter; you are great at singing
informal excellent; fantastic
British informal (intensifier)a dirty great smack in the face
(postpositive foll by with) archaic
- pregnantgreat with child
- full (of)great with hope
(intensifier, used in mild oaths)Great Scott!
be great on informal
- to be informed about
- to be enthusiastic about or for
adverb
informal very well; excellentlyit was working great
noun
Derived forms of great
greatly, adverbgreatness, noun
Word Origin for great
Old English grēat; related to Old Frisian grāt, Old High German grōz; see grit, groat
British Dictionary definitions for great (2 of 2)
prefix
being the parent of a person’s grandparent (in the combinations great-grandfather, great-grandmother, great-grandparent)
being the child of a person’s grandchild (in the combinations great-grandson, great-granddaughter, great-grandchild)
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with great
In addition to the idioms beginning with great
- great deal
- great guns
- great many
- great minds run in the same channel, all
- great shakes
- great white hope
also see:
- good (great) deal
- good (great) many
- go to any length (great lengths)
- have a good (great) mind to
- make great strides
- no great shakes
- set (great) store by
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.