great
Usage
What are other ways to say great?
In reference to the size and extent of concrete objects, great is highly formal and even poetic, suggesting also that the object is notable or imposing, large is only somewhat formal, and big is the most general and most colloquial word: a great oak; a large tree; a big tree; great plains; a large field; a big field. When the reference is to degree or a quality, great is the usual word: great beauty; great mistake; great surprise; although big sometimes alternates with it in colloquial style: a big mistake; a big surprise; large is usually not used in reference to degree, but may be used in a quantitative reference: a large number (great number).
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And, of course, buying too late is never a great idea, as those tickets are usually priced for passengers who need a last-minute ticket and are willing to pay more.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026
"It is one of Liverpool's great landmarks and its redevelopment presents an enormous opportunity to build on our success as one of the UK's leading locations for film and television," she said.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
“Chuck made a great point. All we can say is thank you, and we appreciate you. We’re gonna miss you, and we will see you around, but thanks for the great run.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
A great book, a bad movie: Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun is strange and beautiful—but it might also be unfilmable.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
“This is great, but now I have to wait until next week to face my fears, right?”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Kane has been developing and maturing into one of England's all-time greats ever since those early loan spells at Leyton Orient and Millwall.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
These greats built the mecca they needed and deserved, debating its contours, wanting it to last.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
But concern is the prevailing mood among the culinary greats gathered in Mexico.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
Buttler is England's best white-ball batter of all-time, while Brook is on the way to being one of their greats.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
It wasn’t until the sixth round, at which point Bobby had barely compiled an even score, that he was tested by one of the true greats of the game, David Bronstein of the Soviet Union.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Their analysis reveals that melting and breaking apart play a much greater role than previously believed in determining how much material a rock loses, how quickly it slows down, and where its fragments eventually land.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Independent councillor Paul McCusker warned the closure puts vulnerable people "at even greater risk" and he has lobbied the council to explore alternative locations.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Wages were rising by more than 5% a year — and by an even greater amount for job switchers.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026
Alongside the job cuts and a streamlined model range, Volkswagen is seeking simpler organizational structures, improved vehicle costs, lower overhead costs, greater efficiency in its plants and faster technology development.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
But to her surprise he said yes, and to her greater surprise added, “I used to do my mom’s nails. So I know how to use the emery board and everything.”
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
“I think the greatest danger we have in this moment is being demoralized and being discouraged and not claiming our power — our vote is our power.”
From Salon ● Oct. 29, 2026
When the scientists compared different groups of ants, they discovered that lineages containing the greatest numbers of jumping genes also tended to have the most species today.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
With planning, and if you remain in good health, Gratton says, “our 70s can be some of the greatest years of our lives.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
One post on social media from Kane as he celebrated the greatest moment of his career said it all: "Work hard in silence. Let success be your noise."
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
In June 1963, Kennedy enjoyed his greatest moment on the world stage, speaking to a crowd of nearly half a million in the shadow of the Berlin Wall.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Vocabulary lists containing great
Spelling Practice, Unit 8
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Spelling Practice, Unit 8
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Spelling Practice 1, Unit 5
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