- 1large in size, degree, amount, etc. a big man/house/increase This shirt isn't big enough. It's the world's biggest computer company. (informal) He had this great big grin on his face. They were earning big money. The news came as a big blow. older
- 2(informal) older You're a big girl now. my big brother
- 3[only before noun] important; serious a big decision Tonight is the biggest match of his career. You are making a big mistake. She took the stage for her big moment. (informal) Do you really think we can take on the big boys (= compete with the most powerful people)? ambitious
- 4(informal) (of a plan) needing a lot of effort, money, or time to succeed They're full of big ideas. popular
- 5(informal) popular with the public; successful Orange is the big color this year. big in… The band's very big in Japan. enthusiastic
- 6(informal) enthusiastic about someone or something I'm a big fan of hers. doing something a lot
- 7doing something often or to a large degree a big eater/drinker/spender
- 8big of somebody (usually ironic) kind or generous He gave me an extra five dollars for two hours of work. I thought, “That's big of you.”
large
noun [uncountable] Which Word?big / large / greatThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
| big ~ | large ~ | great ~ |
|---|---|---|
| man | numbers | success |
| house | part | majority |
| car | area | interest |
| boy | room | importance |
| dog | company | difficulty |
| smile | family | problem |
| problem | population | pleasure |
| surprise | volume | beauty |
| question | fries | artist |
| difference | soda | surprise |
- Large is more formal than big and should be used in writing unless it is in an informal style. It is not usually used to describe people, except to avoid saying “fat.”
- Great often suggests quality and not just size. Note also the phrases:a large amount of a large number of a large quantity of a great deal of in great detail a person of great age.
to be/become too proud of yourself; to behave as if you are more important than you really are
an important and powerful person, especially in an organization
the most important person or thing
an important person (in a small community)
the situation as a whole Right now, we need to forget the details and take a look at the big picture.
an important person
the use or threat of force or power The authorities used quiet persuasion instead of the big stick.
the three, four, etc. most important countries, people, companies, etc. She works for one of the Big Six.
used to say that someone has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat
to show your approval of someone by clapping; to be applauded in this way Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a big hand to our special guests tonight…
to have more important or more interesting things to do
on a large/small scale The new delivery service has taken off in a big way. Many people are investing in a small way in the stock market.
to make something seem more important than it really is
the most important man in a group, especially the leader of a group of criminalsSee big in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: big