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.
"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," he told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
“He’s typically a pretty quiet person too on the court, which has been cool to see him transform a little bit. He’s been doing a great job helping me out.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
“It would be helpful if you did XX” or “It would be great if you could acknowledge input from everyone, not just X, Y, Z,” for example, illuminate specific actions you can repeat or change.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
"Paraguay is a great team and really good test," Pulisic told AFP.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
He blinked a moment at seeing people in the hall, then turned with great deliberation to the meter on the wall.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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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