Is the word great an adjective

The word “great’’ provides us the meaning of huge or large. Let us examine whether it can be regarded as an adjective, a noun, or an interjection.

The word “great’’ can be used as an adjective, as a noun, and as an interjection. As an adjective, it emphasizes the noun that describes something. As a noun, it refers to largeness or hugeness and as an interjection, it describes our feelings.

Let us explain more facts related to “great” as an adjective or noun or interjection along with some examples more interestingly.

When is “great’’ considered as an adjective?

An adjective is one type of part of speech that tells us more about nouns or pronouns. Let us explain when the word “great’’ is considered as an adjective.

The word “great’’ is considered an adjective when it is used to emphasize or modify nouns or pronouns. It can be used as an adjective in the following cases.

Let us see the table where the situations and examples are given to show the usage as an adjective very interestingly.

Situations Example Explanation
1. “Great’’ is used as an adjective to show more than usual. Kallis is in a great hurry to reach his destination in time. In this sentence, the word “great’’ is used as an adjective to show more than Kallis’ usual self.
2. “Great’’ acts as an adjective to express more important or powerful. India has great military power. This example shows that as an adjective the word “great’’ expresses more power from India’s side.
3. The word “great’’ can be used as an adjective to tell the anatomical size of a person or object. My sister has bought a great piece of chocolate for me. Here the word “great’’ as an adjective expresses the physical size of the noun “chocolate’’.
4. “Great’’ can be used as an adjective to show a very large or impressive. A great river flows through our country. Here we see that the word “great’’ is used as an adjective to show a very large or impressive.
5. The word “great’’ acts as an adjective to give us an idea of the event or situation that can stimulate several people in a place or a vast locality. Tsunami, a great natural disaster took a heavy toll on lives. This example shows that the word “great’’ is used as an adjective to indicate an event that affected a lot of people.
6. “Great’’ is used as an adjective when we talk about someone famous or important. The great monument is situated in Kolkata. Here the word “great’’ as an adjective is used to indicate a famous monument that is admired by people.
7. “Great’’ works as an adjective when we express enthusiasm about something or someone. My grandfather was a great football fan. Here as an adjective, the word “great’’ expresses grandfather’s enthusiasm about the game.
Situations and examples of “great” considered as an adjective

Is “great’’ a descriptive adjective?

A descriptive adjective is one kind of adjective that modifies a noun or a pronoun. Here we will check whether “great’’ is a descriptive adjective.

The adjective “great’’ is certainly regarded as a descriptive adjective as it can modify or emphasize a noun or a pronoun by expressing it or describing its quality.

When is “great’’ a descriptive adjective?

The word “great’’ is definitely considered as a descriptive adjective when we use it in a sentence to emphasize or modify the noun or a pronoun.

Let us look at the table to see the examples where the word “great’’ is used as a descriptive adjective.

Example Explanation
1. Gouranga Das is a great man who is widely respected in our locality. In this sentence, the word “great’’ is used as a descriptive adjective. It modifies the noun “Gouranga’’ here.
2. A great banyan tree adorns the whole area. In this example, the word “great’’ is used as an adjective and emphasizes the noun “banyan tree’’. It gives us more idea of the largeness of the tree.
3. There are many great teachers in our school. In this scenario, the word “great’’ acts as a descriptive adjective. It describes the quality of the person.
4. Sourav is a great batsman on the national cricket team. Here we see that “great’’ as a descriptive adjective modifies the noun “batsman’’ and gives us a description of the noun.
5. We enjoyed a great feast last year. This is the sentence where the word “great’’ works as a descriptive adjective. It gives us a description of the noun “feast’’.
Examples of “great” as a descriptive adjective

Apart from being an adjective, the word “great’’ is used as a noun. Here we will examine whether the word “great’’ is a noun.

The word “great’’ is certainly considered as a noun when we want to refer to a person, place, or thing in general. When it is used as a noun we can have it as the plural form.

When is “great’’ a noun?

The word “great’’ is a noun when it is formed noun by adding the suffix “ness’’ and forms “greatness’’. It can be used to express the quality of a person, animal, or thing.

Let us look at the table where the examples are given of “great” as a noun in an amazing way.

Example Explanation
1. Santanu and Sourav are the greats of our district. In this explanation, the word “great’’ is used as a noun and refers to the person of a particular place.
2. The authority had arranged to tribute the greats of the organization. This is the example where the word “great’’ is used as a noun. It refers to the people. We actually come to know the successful person.
3. Some greats of the team were given prizes by the president. In this sentence, we see that the word “great’’ acts as a noun and refers to the persons who have achieved importance or distinction in the field.
4. Harry respects the greats of the country wholeheartedly. In this scenario, it is found that the word “great’’ as a noun refers to the persons who are respected throughout the country.
5. Do not avoid following the great of the world. Here we see that the word “great’’ refers to people having a popularity for their outstanding works in their respective fields.
Examples of “great” as a noun

Is “great’’ an interjection?

An interjection is a part of speech that expresses our feelings of wonder, surprise, and sudden sorrow. Here we will explore the word “great’’ as an interjection.

The word “great’’ is definitely regarded as an interjection as it is used to express our feelings of profound gladness, surprise, pain, displeasure, congratulations, and amazement about someone or something.

Let us look at the table where the examples are shown in an interesting manner with “great’’ as an interjection.

Example Explanation
1. Great! You have done really well. In this sentence, the word “great’’ has been used as an interjection to show amazement and happiness.
2. Great! Thanks, Sayon for the excellent performance. Here the word “great’’ as an interjection expresses surprise and happy feelings. It shows the amazement of the speaker about “Sayon’s” performance.
3. Oh, great! I have scored good marks in English. Here it is seen that the word “great’’ is used as an interjection. It is inserted here to show the gladness and surprise of the speaker.
4. My brother has got a job. Great! In this sentence, the word “great’’ as an interjection expresses the happiness of the speaker.
5. Oh, Great! Suresh Raina has done an outstanding performance in the match. This is the example where the word “great’’ is inserted as an interjection. It shows the speaker’s emotional feelings and extreme happiness.
Examples of “great” as an interjection

Conclusion

This article deals with the usage of “great’’ as an adjective. It also contains a discussion on its use as a noun and as an interjection. This will certainly help us to use it in the right manner.

Table of Contents

  1. Is the word great an adjective or adverb?
  2. What does the word greatest mean?
  3. Which parts of speech is greatest?
  4. Is the word Greatest an adjective?
  5. What is the noun for great?
  6. What word is higher than greatest?
  7. What is the greatest opposite word?
  8. What is better best or greatest?
  9. What comes first best or better?
  10. What is the opposite of kindness?
  11. Is Cringeful a word?
  12. What are the worst words to say?
  13. What does Unfavored mean?
  14. What is a word for highly favored?
  15. What do highly favored mean?
  16. How do you get favor from God?
  17. Does the Bible say we are highly favored?
  18. What does highly favored by God mean?
  19. Where does the Bible say we are blessed and highly favored?

great (adverb) great (noun) great ape (noun)

What does the word greatest mean?

Definitions of greatest. adjective. highest in quality. synonyms: sterling, superlative superior. of high or superior quality or performance.

Which parts of speech is greatest?

  • adjective.
  • adverb.
  • noun.
  • verb.

Is the word Greatest an adjective?

great at: She’s great at maths….great ​Definitions and Synonyms ​‌‌‌

adjective great
comparative greater
superlative greatest

What is the noun for great?

greatness. The state, condition, or quality of being great.

What word is higher than greatest?

Greatest Synonyms – WordHippo Thesaurus….What is another word for greatest?

best apex
ascendant authoritative
chief consummate
foremost highest
incomparable leading

What is the greatest opposite word?

adjective. least secondary insignificant slight low unimportant subordinate inconsequential trifling minor negligible subsidiary trivial lessened inconsiderable collateral last.

What is better best or greatest?

If you are the greatest, you are best. BEST IS SUPERLATIVE OF GOOD. GREATEST IS THE SUPERLATIVE OF GREAT. IN THAT SENSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT WORDS.

What comes first best or better?

When you use best, you say it in absolute terms. While better is used in relative terms. “Better” is a comparative, i.e. it is a relationship between two things. “Best” is a superlative, i.e. it states the position of this one thing compared to all the other things under discussion.

What is the opposite of kindness?

Opposite of the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. malice. animosity. callousness. cruelty.

Is Cringeful a word?

verb (used without object), cringed, cring·ing. to shrink back, bend, or crouch, especially in fear, pain, or servility; cower: She cringed in a corner and started praying.

What are the worst words to say?

The 10 Worst Words in the English Language

  • Colonel. “Colonel” is just an unwieldy disaster of phonetics and it spits in the face of the English language.
  • Rural. There is no graceful way to say rural.
  • Fester.
  • Puce.
  • Squelch.
  • February.
  • Pustule.
  • Bosom.

What does Unfavored mean?

: not being a favorite especially : being regarded with special disfavor or dislike.

What is a word for highly favored?

In this page you can discover 61 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for favored, like: favorite, unpopular, popular, preferent, disfavored, preferred, well-liked, treat well, like, favourite and pet.

What do highly favored mean?

You have been highly favored. Theologically, it means you have been highly graced. Watch the interchange between grace and favor. “And Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and Noah was highly favored”. To be favored is to have grace.

How do you get favor from God?

10 Keys to God’s Favor

  1. Love God. Love God with all your heart.
  2. Love people. What are you doing for the Kingdom?
  3. Hate what God hates. As you make a stand for God and His causes His favor is released upon you.
  4. Give gifts and offerings.
  5. Be faithful.
  6. Be righteous/blameless.
  7. Be submitted.
  8. Be humble/have humility.

Does the Bible say we are highly favored?

You are blessed and highly favored! This was the good news that the angel Gabriel brought to Mary. He let her know that she was blessed and highly favored. She was favored because, of all the women who would ever live, God chose her.

What does highly favored by God mean?

Blessed and highly favored means that God has His hands on us for His purposes! 1. God was with Mary before He called Mary (Verse 28) In this text, God sent Gabriel to announce to Mary that she would be the vessel through which Jesus would come!

Where does the Bible say we are blessed and highly favored?

In the beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-8; Luke 6:20-26), Jesus tells us that those who are blessed includes: the poor in spirit, those that mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Is the word great a adjective?

great (adjective) great (adverb) great (noun) great ape (noun)

What are the type of adjectives?

Common types of adjectives

  • Possessive adjectives. Possessive adjectives are a type of pronoun used before nouns.
  • Demonstrative adjectives.
  • Descriptive adjectives.
  • Proper adjectives.
  • Interrogative adjectives.
  • Predicate adjectives.
  • Indefinite adjectives.
  • Quantitative adjectives.

How many kinds of adjectives are there in English grammar?

8 types

What kind of an adverb is only?

As detailed above, ‘only’ can be an adverb, an adjective or a conjunction. Adverb usage: my heart is hers, and hers only. Adverb usage: if there were only one more ticket! Adverb usage: he left only moments ago.

What is another word for only?

What is another word for only?

one sole
solitary lone
single unique
exclusive individual
alone one-off

What is an antonym for only?

What is the opposite of only?

more than beyond
not just not only

What only means?

We use only as an adjective to mean that there is just one or very few of something, or that there are no others: … Only as an adverb. We use only as an adverb to mean that something is limited to some people, things, an amount or an activity: … Only: position.

Is Onism a real word?

Onism (noun): The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time, which is like standing in front of the departures screen at an airport, flickering over with strange place names like other people’s passwords, each representing one more thing you’ll never get to see before you die— …

What does can mean?

to be able to; have the ability, power, or skill to: She can solve the problem easily, I’m sure. to know how to: He can play chess, although he’s not particularly good at it. to have the power or means to: A dictator can impose his will on the people.

What is the meaning of at most?

phrase. You use at most or at the most to say that a number or amount is the maximum that is possible and that the actual number or amount may be smaller.

What is the meaning of at least in probability?

At least also means “less than or equal to”. Therefore, in probability, at least mean the minimum value that should occur once a random event happens.

How do we use the term at least?

You use at least to say that something is the minimum that is true or possible. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used. She could take a nice holiday at least. He is at least content that there will be no immediate use of force. At the least, I needed some sleep.

What is the meaning of at least in math?

“At least one” is a mathematical term meaning one or more. It is commonly used in situations where existence can be established but it is not known how to determine the total number of solutions.

What is the probability of at least one?

To find the probability of at least one of something, calculate the probability of none and then subtract that result from 1. That is, P(at least one) = 1 – P(none).

Which is greatest number?

To get the greatest number, the greatest digit 9 is placed at the highest valued place, i.e., thousands-place, next smaller digit 6 at hundreds-place, still smaller digit 5 at ten’s place and the smallest digit 2 at one’s or units place. Thus, the greatest number is 9652.

What is the symbol of at least?

The sign is a < with a _ underneath it. “Greater than or equal to” means at least. The equivalent symbol is “>=”. For example, A >= 5 means A should be at least 5.

What symbol represents at most?

The notation a ≤ b or a ⩽ b means that a is less than or equal to b (or, equivalently, at most b, or not greater than b). The notation a ≥ b or a ⩾ b means that a is greater than or equal to b (or, equivalently, at least b, or not less than b).

How do you show less than 1?

This method is pretty simple—”less than” starts with a letter L, so the symbol that looks most like an L is the one that means “less than.” < looks more like an L than >, so < means “less than.” Because > doesn’t look like an L, it can’t be “less than.”

What does at least mean in sets?

At least in math means the smallest possible number in a set or sequence for example can not or must not be less than the given number.

What are the types of sets?

Types of a Set

  • Finite Set. A set which contains a definite number of elements is called a finite set.
  • Infinite Set. A set which contains infinite number of elements is called an infinite set.
  • Subset.
  • Proper Subset.
  • Universal Set.
  • Empty Set or Null Set.
  • Singleton Set or Unit Set.
  • Equal Set.

большой, отличный, великий, замечательно, вельможи

прилагательное

- большой; огромный, громадный, колоссальный

- большой, значительный, многочисленный (о числе, количестве, мере, степени и т. п.)

- длинный, большой (о пространственной протяжённости)

a great way — длинный путь
a great distance — большое расстояние

- долгий, продолжительный, длительный, большой (о временной протяжённости)

a great while — долгое время
a great while ago — очень давно
great age — глубокая старость
to reach a great age — достичь глубокой старости, дожить до глубокой старости
of great antiquity — очень древний, относящийся к глубокой древности

- большой, сильный, глубокий, колоссальный, огромный (о чувствах, состояниях, свойствах и т. п.)

ещё 17 вариантов

существительное

- собир. сильные мира сего
- великие писатели, классики
- pl. студ. жарг. последний экзамен на степень бакалавра гуманитарных наук (в Кембридже и Оксфорде)

by /in/ the great — оптом, гуртом

Мои примеры

Словосочетания

all creatures great and small — все твари, большие и малые (люди и животные)  
a great quantity of fish — большое количество рыбы  
an actress of great charm — актриса огромного обаяния / очень обаятельная актриса  
a young person of great wisdom — молодой человек великой мудрости  
the great bulk of a building — огромная масса здания  
a man of great moral integrity — человек высоких моральных качеств  
a woman of great wit and charm — женщина большого остроумия и обаяния  
the great brains of the world — великие умы человечества  
great bulk — огромное большинство  
mind of great capacity — всеобъемлющий ум  
extreme / great caution — крайняя осторожность  
drastic / great change — большие перемены  

Примеры с переводом

Peter the Great

Пётр Великий

What a great idea!

Какая прекрасная идея! / Как здорово придумано!

A car can be a great expense.

Машина может обойтись вам очень дорого.

He left in great disgust.

Он ушёл в сильном раздражении.

John always takes great care over his work.

Джон всегда очень внимательно относится ко всей своей работе.

The paintings cost a great deal (=a lot) of money.

Эти картины стоят кучу (т.е. очень много) денег.

The project will require a great amount of time and money.

Проект потребует большого количества времени и денег.

ещё 23 примера свернуть

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

He felt great awe for the landscape.

The dancer performed with great élan.

That shop does a great afternoon tea.

Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке , напротив примера.

Возможные однокоренные слова

greater  — большой, вящий
greatly  — значительно, очень, весьма, возвышенно, благородно
greatness  — величие, величина, сила
greats  — вельможи, сильные мира сего, великие писатели, классики, богачи
greatest  — величайший
greaten  — увеличивать, увеличиваться

Формы слова

noun
ед. ч.(singular): great
мн. ч.(plural): greats

adjective
срав. степ. (comparative): greater
прев. степ. (superlative): greatest

The term «Great» has many pronouns meaning it represents different text contents which includes adjectives, nouns and adverbs. However the term for «Grate» is a verb and noun, which has the same pronunciation but different meaning.

The word «great» is an adjective and means much more than moderate or common in size, volume, mass value, or importance. The word «grate» is a verb and means to grind, scrape, or irritate. We use «grate» mainly in cooking terminology and «great» as an adjective to indicate quality above the average.

Keep reading to learn the meaning and origin of the word «Great vs Grate», sentences and when using the word, and phrases that are commonly used in different contexts.

Great: Definition

great sign in purple background

Using the word «great» as an adjective is to describe something that is very huge. «Great» is more formal than huge or you can describe someone who is successful and famous for their action, productivity,  knowledge, or skill as great.

Using the word «great» as a noun is used as part of the name of a certain species of plant or animal when there is another species of the same plant or animal which is very small and has different bio characteristics functions. Using the word «great» as an adverb is excellent or outstanding.

Grate: Definition

Using «grate» as a noun is a frame of metal bars for holding fuel consumption when burning, as in a wood fireplace, furnace, gas stove or a framework of parallel or semi crossed bars, used as a partition, shield guard, cover net.

Using the word «grate» as a verb is to make a loud sharp rasping noise, such as scraping or to scrape or rub harshly, as one item upon another.

The Origin of the Word

«Great» is one of the English Oxford Dictionary’s one thousand most used frequent words, it may be used as an adjective, adverb, and a noun occasionally. «Great» is a very Old English word derived from the German standard word «grautaz» meaning «coarse,» «massive.» It took heavy over the function of midpoint English «mickle,» and is now itself mostly superseded by «big» and «huge» except in reference to non-material items. In the sense of «excellent,» «wonderful», the use of the word «great» is verified in the year 1848.

However «Great White Way Broadway» from New York City in1901 with connection to brilliant street illumination. The Great Lakes of North America high tide was called by 1726, or  1690s. «Great Spirit of the North American Asians,» 1703, basically translates «ojibwe gitchi manitou.» The Great War basically 1887 indicated to the Napoleonic Wars, then later in 1914 to what is called The World War I.

«The Great War» was until France slump and the British remained ahead to call the First World War to approve  themselves that they are now included in the war of the same emanation.  Already in verb format, Old Latin English «greatian» to become an enlargement,» Midpoint English greaten «to become very large, huge, increase size, grow; become evidently pregnant,» which became archaic after the 17th  century.

«Grate» has been pre-owned since the fifteenth century by the meaning «cagework» through a door or window, from the Latin word «cratis» which means straw-plaited or hurdle. In the fourteenth century, grate also was implemented to be used as the meaning for scraped, scratched, and introduced by the Old French word grater. In the late 14th century, «grill for cooking;» early 15th century, «iron bars rods or cagework across a door or window,» from Anglo-Latin (middle 14th century ), Old French grate or direct from the Gothic Latin «grata.» As a verb means «to fit within a grate,» from middle 15th century. Relating to Grated or grating.

Synonyms of «great» and meanings

  1.     Magnificent is defined as a grand or noble in thought or accomplishment.
  2.      Wonderful is defined as an amazing, astonishing, excellent or enjoyable person, thing or event.
  3.      Tremendous is defined as outstanding.
  4.      Big is defined as of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or large
  5.      Grand is defined as having a higher rank than others of the same category.
  6.      Prominent defined to attract attention from its size or position; conspicuous.

Synonyms of grate and meanings

  1. Firebox defines a chamber, such as the furnace of a steam locomotive, in which fuel is burned.
  2. Scrape defines removal (an outer layer, for example) from a surface by forceful strokes of an edged or rough instrument.
  3. Stove is an apparatus in which electricity or fuel is used to furnish heat, as for cooking or warmth.
  4. Rasp defines scraping or rubbing with or as with a file.
  5. Grating is defined as nautical, in  plural format is a powerful wooden lattice used to wrap a hatch, introduce light and air, also a portable lattice used for the floor of ships and an optical system of nearby equidistant and parallel lines or rod bars, vertical lines ruled on a shining surface, used for generating spectra by diffraction.

Phrases and Sentences Using the Word «Great»

  • Theodore Parker once spoke that a great novel that came from a great intellectual is a ship of understanding, deep traveling within the truth and style.
  • William Shakespeare once said that small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.
  • This is a great day for boat sailing, there is a good warm breeze blowing, and the sun is shining.
  • Nora Roberts once wrote that love and magic have a great deal in common, they enrich the mind, soul, delight the heart, and they both need to take practice.
  • François de La Rochefoucauld once agreed that the glory of great makes must always be measured against the means they have used to acquire and earn it.
  • The man has faced a great deal of adversity in his lifetime but has always overcome even the most difficult challenges in his life.
  • The woman’s success was a great satisfaction to him.
  • Later, those from many other countries flocked to China because they were attracted by reports of great economic opportunities and religious and political freedom and contracted COVID-19.
  • This morning, I heard the great news of the new arrival in our family.
  • Great minds think alike.
  • How great is our God, sing with me.
  • He would soon become a captain and certainly perhaps a great admiral.
  • As we moved toward that new future, it is a great tragedy that the experiences of all the people’s situations of the past are lost within themselves.

grate word in the dictionary

How to use «Grate» in a Sentence

To ensure that you are using «grate» in the right context, it should be used when shredding, scraping, grinding something or breaking into small pieces by rubbing against something rough.

The important thing to remember is that «grate» is not only a verb but a noun also and has a different meaning also.

«Grate» may also be used as a framework of parallel or latticed bars rods for blocking an opening and framework of metal bars rods used to hold fuel or food on a stove, furnace, or fireplace.

Ultimately, you should remember that this word is always used in different text content and to imply different functions.

List of Examples of the Word Grate Used in Sentences

  1. The usual format of deliberate fireplace is a  fire grate placed under an arch tunnel and communicating with the setup shaft by an inclined stray.
  2. The size of the grate varies with the requirements of the ventilation, but from 6 to 10 feet.
  3. I met the servant that came to take water for his old master, and the master buckets were grated together in the same water well.
  4. The maximum rate of explosion may be the measurement of coal per square meter foot of grate per hour second and in irregular cases even a greater rate than it had been.
  5. Sometimes the purpose of a gas-producer item is obtained in a very transparent manner by lowering the grate of a traditional fireplace with much more layers of coal 4 or 5 feet.
  6. The fuel is burned on the grate of the inner firebox.
  7. For coughs, grate a clove of garlic and mix with honey.
  8. The important point of the room is the new marble style features for the fireplace with living flame opening grate fire.
  9. You can grate ginger root steam into a cup of boiling hot water or add a lot of chopped ginger pieces to your food.

The Difference Between «Great» vs «Grate»

As nouns, the difference between «Grate and Great» is that grate is a horizontal steel griller where water, ash, or small objects can go through or fall, while very larger objects cannot while great is a person of major accomplishment and significance.

As an adjective the difference characteristic «Grate vs Great» is that grate is no longer in use serving satisfaction; pleasing while great is huge, large and big amounts.

Conclusion

chef grates a carrot

So as you can see, «Great» and «Grate» are pronounced the same but imply and have different forms of text content.

Although you won’t hear it being said very often these days, it once was quite a popular phrase in the English language and one that carried a lot of weight when it came to different text content descriptions.

Shawn Manaher

Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.

English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English greet (great, large), from Old English grēat (big, thick, coarse, massive), from Proto-West Germanic *graut, from Proto-Germanic *grautaz (big in size, coarse, coarse grained), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰrewd-, *gʰer- (to rub, grind, remove).

Cognate with Scots great (coarse in grain or texture, thick, great), West Frisian grut (large, great), Dutch groot (large, stour), German groß (large), Old English grēot (earth, sand, grit). Related to grit.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • enPR: grāt, IPA(key): /ˈɡɹeɪt/
  • (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈɡɹæɪt/
  • (obsolete (1700s)) enPR: grīt, IPA(key): /ɡɹiːt/[1]
  • (Early Modern English (1500s, 1600s)) IPA(key): /ɡɹɛːt/,[2] /ɡɹet/[2]
  • Rhymes: -eɪt
  • Homophone: grate

Adjective[edit]

great (comparative greater, superlative greatest)

  1. (augmentative) Large, senior (high-ranking), intense, extreme, or exceptional
    1. Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

      A great storm is approaching our shores.

      a great assembly

      a great wait

      • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest[2]:

        “[…] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don’t know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like // Here’s rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. []

      • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 7, in The China Governess[3]:

        ‘Children crawled over each other like little grey worms in the gutters,’ he said. ‘The only red things about them were their buttocks and they were raw. Their faces looked as if snails had slimed on them and their mothers were like great sick beasts whose byres had never been cleared. []

      • 2013 July 19, Timothy Garton Ash, “Where Dr Pangloss meets Machiavelli”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 18:

        Hidden behind thickets of acronyms and gorse bushes of detail, a new great game is under way across the globe. Some call it geoeconomics, but it’s geopolitics too. The current power play consists of an extraordinary range of countries simultaneously sitting down to negotiate big free trade and investment agreements.

    2. Title referring to an important leader.

      Alexander the Great

    3. Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

      the great auk

      • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [] (First Folio), London: [] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:

        He doth object I am too great of birth.

    4. (informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic. [from 1848]

      Dinner was great.

      • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

        He was thinking; but the glory of the song, the swell from the great organ, the clustered lights, [], the height and vastness of this noble fane, its antiquity and its strength—all these things seemed to have their part as causes of the thrilling emotion that accompanied his thoughts.

    5. (informal, Britain) Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

      a dirty great smack in the face

      Great Scott!

  2. (qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

    great-grandfather, greatgreat-grandfather, greatgreatgreat-grandfather

  3. (obsolete, postpositive, followed by ‘with’) Pregnant; large with young; full of.

    great with child

    great with hope

  4. (obsolete, except with ‘friend’ and similar words such as ‘mate’,’buddy’) Intimate; familiar.
  5. Extreme or more than usual.

    great worry

  6. Of significant importance or consequence; important.

    a great decision

    • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

      “We are engaged in a great work, a treatise on our river fortifications, perhaps? But since when did army officers afford the luxury of amanuenses in this simple republic?”

  7. (applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

    a great deed

    a great nature

    a great history

  8. Impressive or striking.

    a great show of wealth

  9. Much in use; favoured.

    Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.

  10. (applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

    a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.

  11. Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

    What a great buffoon!

    He’s not a great one for reading.

    a great walker

  12. (often followed by ‘at’) Skilful or adroit.

    a great carpenter

    You are great at singing.

Usage notes[edit]

Moderating adverbs such as fairly, somewhat, etc. tend not to be used with great. Some intensifiers can be used with some senses of great; for example, a very great amount, a very great man, the party was really great, though not *the party was very great.

Synonyms[edit]

  • (augmentative): grand, super-, supra-, hyper-, ultra-, uber-, macro-, arch-, over-, mega-, giga-, -zilla
  • See also Thesaurus:large
  • See also Thesaurus:excellent
  • gr8, grt (Internet slang, text messaging)

Antonyms[edit]

  • (very big, large scale): tiny
  • (uncommonly gifted): mediocre, ordinary

Derived terms[edit]

  • a great many
  • behind every great man is a great woman
  • behind every great man there stands a woman
  • child-great
  • death is the great leveller
  • double great primer
  • go great guns
  • go to great lengths
  • great albatross
  • great antshrike
  • great ape
  • Great Assize
  • great auk
  • great aunt
  • Great Aycliffe
  • Great Ayton
  • great balls of fire
  • Great Bardfield
  • Great Barr
  • Great Barrier Island
  • Great Barrier Reef
  • great bass
  • great bass recorder
  • Great Bavington
  • Great Bedwyn
  • Great Belt
  • Great Bend
  • Great Bentley
  • Great Bernera
  • great beyond
  • great big
  • great bittern
  • great black-backed gull
  • great blue heron
  • great blue lobelia
  • Great Bookham
  • Great Bourton
  • Great Bridge
  • Great Bridgeford
  • Great Britain
  • Great Broughton
  • great brown kingfisher
  • great bustard
  • great Caesar’s ghost
  • great cardiac vein
  • great cassino
  • great cat
  • great cerebral vein
  • great chain of being
  • great chamber
  • Great Chart
  • Great Chesterford
  • great circle
  • great circle arc
  • great circle route
  • great comet
  • great conjunction
  • great cormorant
  • great crest
  • great crested grebe
  • great crested newt
  • great cry and little wool
  • great cubicuboctahedron
  • Great Dane
  • great deal
  • great dodecahedron
  • Great Driffield
  • great eggfly
  • great egret
  • Great Elm
  • Great Falls
  • Great Feasts
  • great fee
  • Great Glen
  • great go
  • great grand multipara
  • great grand multiparity
  • great grand multiparous
  • great grandchild
  • great granddaughter, great-granddaughter
  • great grandfather, great-grandfather
  • great grandkid
  • great grandmaster
  • great grandmother, great-grandmother
  • great grandparent
  • great grandson, great-grandson
  • great great grandchild
  • great great granddaughter
  • great great grandfather
  • great great grandmother
  • great great grandparent
  • great great grandson
  • great great great grandfather
  • great great great grandmother
  • great green macaw
  • great grey owl
  • great grey shrike
  • great gross
  • great gun
  • great hall
  • Great Harrowden
  • great haste makes great waste
  • Great Haywood
  • great heaume
  • great heavens
  • Great Heck
  • great helm
  • great horned owl
  • great horsetail
  • Great Horton
  • Great Hours
  • great house
  • great hundred
  • great icosahedron
  • great icosihemidodecahedron
  • great imitator
  • great job
  • Great Kimble
  • great knot
  • great laurel
  • Great Longstone
  • Great Malvern
  • great man theory
  • great martyr
  • great martyress
  • great minds
  • great minds think alike
  • Great Missenden
  • great mullein
  • Great Munden
  • Great Musgrave
  • Great Ness
  • Great North Road
  • great northern diver
  • great northern loon
  • great northern prawn
  • great oaks from little acorns grow
  • great octave
  • great office of state
  • great one
  • Great Orme
  • Great Ouse
  • great outdoors
  • Great Paxton
  • Great Ponton
  • great power
  • great pox
  • great primer
  • great ramshorn
  • great reed warbler
  • great replacement theory
  • great reset
  • great rhombicuboctahedron
  • Great Rollright
  • great room
  • Great Sankey
  • great saphenous vein
  • great sapphirewing
  • great score
  • great Scott
  • great seal
  • great seal script
  • Great Shefford
  • great skua
  • great snipe
  • great spotted kiwi
  • great spotted woodpecker
  • great stone-curlew
  • Great Sutton
  • Great Terror
  • great thick-knee
  • great tinamou
  • great tit
  • great toe
  • great uncle
  • great unhosed
  • great unwashed
  • great vessel
  • Great Vowel Shift
  • Great Wall of China
  • Great Waltham
  • great white
  • great white egret
  • great white heron
  • great white hope
  • great white rat
  • great white shark
  • Great Witchingham
  • Great Yarmouth
  • Great Yeldham
  • great-aunt
  • great-circle arc
  • great-go
  • great-grand
  • great-grandaunt
  • great-grandchild
  • great-grandfather-in-law
  • great-grandkid
  • great-grandma
  • great-grandnephew
  • great-grandniece
  • great-grandpa
  • great-grandparent
  • great-grandparenthood
  • great-granduncle
  • great-great-grandchild
  • great-great-granddaughter
  • great-great-grandfather
  • great-great-grandma
  • great-great-grandmother
  • great-great-grandparent
  • great-great-grandson
  • great-great-great-grandfather
  • great-great-great-grandmother
  • great-great-nephew
  • great-hearted
  • great-heartedness
  • great-nephew
  • great-nephew
  • great-niece
  • great-niece
  • great-pox
  • great-tailed grackle
  • great-tit
  • great-uncle
  • greatcoat
  • greatly
  • greatness
  • greatsword
  • little strokes fell great oaks
  • no great scratch
  • no great shakes
  • small rain lays great dust
  • take great pains
  • the great and the good
  • two-line great primer
  • with great difficulty

Descendants[edit]

  • Welsh: grêt

Translations[edit]

very big, large scale

  • Afrikaans: groot (af)
  • Arabic: عَظِيم (ar) (ʕaẓīm), كَبِير (ar) (kabīr)
    Egyptian Arabic: كبير(kibīr)
    South Levantine Arabic: كبير(kbīr)
  • Aramaic:
    Classical Syriac: ܪܒܐ‎ m (rabbā), ܟܒܝܪܐ‎ m (kabbīrā)
    Jewish Aramaic: רַבָּא‎ m (rabbā)
  • Armenian: մեծ (hy) (mec)
  • Bavarian: grous
  • Belarusian: вялі́кі (be) (vjalíki)
  • Bengali: আকবর (bn) (akobor)
  • Bulgarian: голя́м (bg) (goljám), вели́к (bg) (velík)
  • Burmese: ကြီးမားသော (kri:ma:sau:)
  • Catalan: gran (ca), enorme (ca)
  • Cherokee: ᎡᏆ (equa)
  • Chinese:
    Cantonese:  (yue) (daai6)
    Dungan: да (da)
    Mandarin:  (zh) (), 巨大 (zh) (jùdà), 偉大伟大 (zh) (wěidà)
  • Cornish: (unified) brâs
  • Crimean Tatar: ulu
  • Czech: veliký (cs)
  • Dalmatian: grund, gruond
  • Dutch: groot (nl)
  • Egyptian: (ꜥꜣ)
  • Erzya: покш (pokš)
  • Eshtehardi: پیل(pil)
  • Esperanto: ega
  • Estonian: vägev
  • Faroese: stórur (fo), mikil
  • Finnish: jättimäinen (fi), mahtava (fi), valtava (fi), jätti-, suunnaton (fi)
  • French: grand (fr)
  • Friulian: grant
  • Galician: grande (gl)
  • Georgian: დიდი (ka) (didi)
  • German: groß (de)
  • Gothic: 𐌼𐌹𐌺𐌹𐌻𐍃 (mikils)
  • Greek: μεγάλος (el) (megálos)
    Ancient: μέγας (mégas)
  • Hebrew: גָּדוֹל (he) m (gadól)
  • Hungarian: nagy (hu)
  • Icelandic: stór (is) m, mikill (is) m
  • Ido: granda (io)
  • Indonesian: besar (id)
  • Irish: mór, ábhal
  • Italian: grande (it)
  • Japanese: 大きい (ja) (おおき​い, ōkii), 巨大な (ja) (きょだいな, kyodai na), 偉大な (ja) (いだいな, idai na)
  • Kazakh: ұлы (ūly)
  • Korean: 크다 (ko) (keuda), 거대하다 (ko) (geodaehada), 위대하다 (ko) (widaehada)
  • Kurdish:
    Central Kurdish: مەزن (ckb) (mezn)
  • Kyrgyz: улуу (ky) (uluu)
  • Latin: magnus (la), grandis
  • Latvian: liels m, dižs m, varens m
  • Lithuanian: didelis (lt)
  • Macedonian: голем (golem)
  • Maore Comorian: -ɓole
  • Maori: mokorahi, mokotahi
  • Maranao: basar
  • Mizo: ropui, lian
  • Mongolian:
    Cyrillic: их (mn) (ix)
  • Mòcheno: groas
  • Navajo: tsoh
  • Neapolitan: gruosso
  • North Frisian: (Föhr-Amrum) grat
  • Old Church Slavonic:
    Cyrillic: великъ (velikŭ)
  • Old East Slavic: великъ (velikŭ)
  • Old English: miċel
  • Old Norse: stórr m, mikill m
  • Pashto: ستر (ps) (stër), لوی(loi)
  • Persian: بزرگ (fa) (bozorg), سترگ (fa) (setorg), عظیم (fa) (‘azim)
  • Plautdietsch: groot (nds)
  • Polish: wielki (pl)
  • Portuguese: grande (pt), grandioso (pt), enorme (pt)
  • Quechua: hatun (qu)
  • Rapa Nui: nui
  • Romanian: mare (ro)
  • Russian: вели́кий (ru) (velíkij), большо́й (ru) (bolʹšój)
  • Sanskrit: मह (sa) (maha), महत् (sa) (mahat)
  • Scots: great, muckle, unco
  • Serbo-Croatian:
    Cyrillic: вѐлик, го̀лем
    Roman: vèlik (sh), gòlem (sh)
  • Slovak: veľký (sk)
  • Slovene: velik (sl)
  • Spanish: grande (es)
  • Swedish: stor (sv)
  • Tajik: бузург (tg) (buzurg)
  • Telugu: గొప్ప (te) (goppa)
  • Tocharian B: orotstse
  • Turkish: çok büyük, büyük (tr)
  • Udi: кала (kala)
  • Ugaritic: 𐎗𐎁 (rb)
  • Ukrainian: вели́кий (uk) (velýkyj)
  • Vietnamese: vĩ đại (vi), tuyệt quá
  • Welsh: mawr (cy)
  • West Frisian: grut (fy)

very good

  • Arabic: رَائِع (ar) (rāʔiʕ), عَظِيم (ar) (ʕaẓīm)
    Egyptian Arabic: عظيم(ʿaẓīm)
  • Aramaic:
    Classical Syriac: ܪܒܐ‎ m (rabbā)
    Jewish Aramaic: רַבָּא‎ m (rabbā)
  • Armenian: հոյակապ (hy) (hoyakap)
  • Belarusian: выда́тны (vydátny), цудо́ўны (cudóŭny)
  • Bulgarian: чуде́сен (bg) (čudésen), отли́чен (bg) (otlíčen)
  • Catalan: genial (ca), fabulós
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: 很好 (hěn hǎo), 不錯不错 (zh) (búcuò),  (zh) (bàng), 卓越 (zh) (zhuóyuè)
  • Czech: skvělý (cs) m
  • Dutch: heerlijk (nl), prachtig (nl)
  • Esperanto: bonega (eo)
  • Finnish: erinomainen (fi), erittäin hyvä, loistava (fi), suurenmoinen (fi), tosihyvä (informal)
  • French: excellent (fr), super (fr), formidable (fr)
  • Georgian: შესანიშნავი (šesanišnavi), საუცხოო (saucxoo)
  • German: großartig (de), schön (de), fein (de), wundervoll (de)
  • Greek: εξαιρετικός (el) (exairetikós)
  • Hebrew: (please verify) מעולֵה‎ m (meʿule), (please verify) מעולָה‎ f (meʿulɑ); נהדר (he) m (nehedɑr), נהדרת‎ f (nehederet); נפלא (he) m (niflɑ), נפלאה‎ f (niflɑʾɑ)
  • Hungarian: nagyszerű (hu)
  • Ido: (please verify) brava (io), (please verify) tre bona
  • Italian: formidabile (it), magnifico (it), ottimo (it), superbo (it), eccellente (it), super (it)
  • Japanese: 凄い (ja) (すごい, sugoi), すばらしい (ja) (subarashii), 素敵な (ja) (すてきな, suteki na), 壮大な (ja) (そうだいな, sōdai na)
  • Korean: 대단하다 (ko) (daedanhada), 훌륭하다 (ko) (hullyunghada), 근사하다 (ko) (geunsahada), 멋지다 (ko) (meotjida)
  • Kurdish:
    Central Kurdish: زۆر چاک(zor çak)
  • Latin: magnus (la), grandis
  • Latvian: lielisks, izcils
  • Lithuanian: puikus, nuostabus (lt)
  • Macedonian: одличен (odličen)
  • Mizo: ropui, ţha
  • Norwegian:
    Bokmål: kjempebra (no)
    Nynorsk: kjempebra
  • Occitan: formidable (oc)
  • Pashto: غوره (ps) (ǧwara)
  • Persian: عالی (fa) (‘âli)
  • Plautdietsch: groot (nds)
  • Polish: wspaniały (pl) m, świetny (pl) m
  • Portuguese: ótimo (pt) m
  • Romanian: superb (ro) m or n, minunat (ro) m or n, foarte bun m or n
  • Russian: прекра́сный (ru) (prekrásnyj), отли́чный (ru) (otlíčnyj), замеча́тельный (ru) (zamečátelʹnyj), великоле́пный (ru) (velikolépnyj), чуде́сный (ru) (čudésnyj)
  • Scots: gey
  • Serbo-Croatian:
    Cyrillic: одличан, изврстан
    Roman: odličan (sh), izvrstan (sh)
  • Slovak: skvelý
  • Slovene: odličen
  • Spanish: formidable (es), muy bueno
  • Swedish: jättebra (sv)
  • Ugaritic: 𐎗𐎁 (rb)
  • Ukrainian: прекра́сний (prekrásnyj), чудо́вий (čudóvyj), чуде́сний (čudésnyj)
  • Vietnamese: tuyệt (vi)
  • Welsh: gwych (cy), grêt

family relationship

  • Assamese: আজো (azü)
  • Finnish: iso- (fi)

uncommonly gifted

  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: 偉大伟大 (zh) (wěidà)
  • Finnish: nerokas (fi), lahjakas (fi)
  • French: grand (fr)
  • Japanese: 偉大な (ja) (いだいな, idai na), 非凡な (ja) (いだいな, idai na)
  • Latin: magnus (la)
  • Kabuverdianu: nhaku
  • Maore Comorian: -ɓole
  • Persian: والا (fa) (vâlâ)

important title

  • Armenian: մեծ (hy) (mec)
  • Bengali: আকবর (bn) (akobor)
  • Bengali: আকবর (bn) (akobor)
  • Bulgarian: вели́к (bg) (velík)
  • Chinese:
    Mandarin: 大帝 (zh) (dàdì)
  • Czech: veliký (cs) m
  • Dutch: (please verify) de Grote
  • Finnish: suuri (fi)
  • French: grand (fr) m, grande (fr) f
  • Georgian: დიდი (ka) (didi)
  • German: der Große (de) m
  • Greek: περίφημος (el) (perífimos)
  • Hebrew: גדול (he) m (gɑdol)
  • Italian: magno (it) m, magna (it) f
  • Japanese: 大王 (ja) (だいおう, daiō)
  • Khmer: ព្រះមហាវីរក្សត្រ (preah mɔhaa viirea ksat)
  • Korean: 위대하다 (ko) (widaehada)
  • Latin: magnus (la)
  • Lithuanian: didysis
  • Macedonian: велик m (velik)
  • Pashto: لوی(loi)
  • Persian: کبیر (fa) (kabir)
  • Polish: wielki (pl) m
  • Portuguese: grande (pt), grandioso (pt), distinto (pt)
  • Romanian: …cel Mare m, Marele… m or n, Marea… f
  • Russian: вели́кий (ru) (velíkij)
  • Serbo-Croatian:
    Cyrillic: вѐлик
    Roman: vèlik (sh)
  • Spanish: Magno, Grande (es)
  • Swedish: stor (sv) (as in: Alexander den store)
  • Vietnamese: Cả (vi) (Roman Catholic)

Translations to be checked

  • Danish: (please verify) fed
  • German: (please verify) groß (de), (please verify) weit (de), (please verify) ausgedehnt (de), (please verify) bedeutend (de) [3]
  • Gilaki: (please verify) پیله(pile)
  • Icelandic: (please verify) stór (is)
  • Ido: (please verify) granda (io)
  • Italian: (please verify) grande (it)
  • Indonesian: (please verify) hebat (id), (please verify) agung (id), (please verify) besar (id)
  • Mazanderani: (please verify) گت(geat)
  • Serbo-Croatian: (please verify) veliki (sh), (please verify) istaknuto (sh) n
  • Swedish: (please verify) fantastisk (sv), (please verify) enorm (sv), (please verify) betydelsefull (sv)

Interjection[edit]

great

  1. Expression of gladness and content about something.
    Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.
    • 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
      I am in my new apartment! Great!

  2. sarcastic inversion thereof.
    Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.

Translations[edit]

great!

  • Bulgarian: чудесно (bg) (čudesno)
  • Danish: fedt, super (da), nice (da)
  • Dutch: fantastisch (nl), (can both be used as sarcasm) fijn (nl)
  • Finnish: mahtavaa
  • French: chouette (fr), génial (fr), très bien
  • Georgian: ვაშა (vaša)
  • German: prima (de)
  • Greek: θαυμάσια (el) (thavmásia)
  • Hebrew: מעולה(meʿule), טוב מאוד(tov meʾod), נהדר (he) (nehedɑr)
  • Italian: grandioso (it) m, bene (it)
  • Japanese: すごい (ja) (sugoi)
  • Kurdish:
    Central Kurdish: باشە(başe), زۆر چاکە(zor çake)
  • Latin: babae
  • Macedonian: супер (super), одлично (odlično)
  • Malay: bagus (ms)
  • Polish: świetnie (pl), super (pl)
  • Portuguese: magnífico (pt), ótimo (pt)
  • Russian: здо́рово (ru) (zdórovo), отли́чно (ru) (otlíčno), класс (ru) (klass) (colloquial)
  • Spanish: bien (es), genial (es)
  • Swedish: jättebra (sv)
  • Thai: ยอดเยี่ยม (th) (yot yiam)
  • Venetian: vèrceghe (vec)

Noun[edit]

great (plural greats)

  1. A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
    Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.
    • 2019, Daniel Taylor, Lionel Messi magic puts Barcelona in command of semi-final with Liverpool (in The Guardian, 1 May 2019)[4]
      Sadio Mané wasted a glorious chance in the first half and, late on, Mohamed Salah turned his shot against a post after a goal-line clearance had spun his way. That, in a nutshell, perhaps sums up the difference between Messi and the players on the next rung below – the ones who can be described as great footballers without necessarily being football greats.
  2. (music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
  3. (in combinations such as «two-greats», «three-greats» etc.) An instance of the word «great» signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
    My three-greats grandmother.

Antonyms[edit]

  • (person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim): mediocre

Translations[edit]

Adverb[edit]

great (not comparable)

  1. (informal) Very well (in a very satisfactory manner).
    Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don’t have to be sharpened.

Translations[edit]

very well

  • Georgian: შესანიშნავად (šesanišnavad)
  • Italian: bene (it), molto bene
  • Macedonian: одлично (odlično)
  • Polish: fajnie (pl), fajno (pl), świetnie (pl)
  • Portuguese: bem (pt)
  • Spanish: genial (es)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Jespersen, Otto (1909) A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles (Sammlung germanischer Elementar- und Handbücher; 9)‎[1], volume I: Sounds and Spellings, London: George Allen & Unwin, published 1961, § 11.75, page 339.
  2. 2.0 2.1 David Crystal, The Oxford Dictionary of Original Shakespearean Pronunciation, 2016

Anagrams[edit]

  • ‘Gater, Gater, Greta, ergat-, grate, retag, targe, terga

Old English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Proto-West Germanic *graut, from Proto-Germanic *grautaz (big in size, coarse, coarse grained), from *gʰer- (to rub, grind, remove).

Cognate with Old Saxon grōt (large, thick, coarse, stour), Old High German grōz (large, thick, coarse), Old English grot (particle). More at groat.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ɡræ͜ɑːt/

Adjective[edit]

grēat

  1. great, massive
  2. tall
  3. thick; stout
  4. coarse

Declension[edit]

Declension of grēat — Strong

Declension of grēat — Weak

Derived terms[edit]

  • grēatnes

Descendants[edit]

  • Middle English: grete, greet; girt, gert
    • English: great, (dialectal) gert
      • Welsh: grêt
    • Scots: great, greet, grete, greit
    • Yola: graat

Scots[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

  • greet, grete, greit

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English grete, from Old English grēat, from Proto-West Germanic *graut, from Proto-Germanic *grautaz.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): [ɡrɛt], [ɡrɪt]
  • (North Northern Scots) IPA(key): [ɡrit]

Adjective[edit]

great (comparative greater, superlative greatest)

  1. great
  2. coarse (in grain or texture)
  3. (of things) thick, bulky, roomy
  4. (of people) big, stout
  5. (of a river) swollen with rain, in flood
  6. (of the sea) high, stormy
  7. intimate, friendly

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.

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