Meaning of big in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /bɪɡ/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    big

    Definitions

    1. significant

    Examples

    • « graduation was a big day in his life »

    Synonyms

  2. 2. of very great significance

    Examples

    • « deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decision »
    • « a momentous event »

    Synonyms

  3. 3. conspicuous in position or importance

    Examples

    • « a big figure in the movement »
    • « big man on campus »
    • « he's very large in financial circles »
    • « a prominent citizen »

    Synonyms

  4. 4. very intense

    Examples

    • « a bad headache »
    • « in a big rage »
    • « had a big (or bad) shock »
    • « a bad earthquake »
    • « a bad storm »

    Synonyms

  5. 5. loud and firm

    Examples

    • « a big voice »
    • « big bold piano sounds »

    Synonyms

  6. 6. (of animals) fully developed

    Examples

    • « an adult animal »
    • « a grown woman »

    Synonyms

  7. 7. marked by intense physical force

    Examples

    • « a big wind »

    Synonyms

  8. 8. feeling self-importance

    Examples

    • « too big for his britches »
    • « had a swelled head »
    • « he was swelled with pride »

    Synonyms

  9. 9. exhibiting self-importance

    Examples

    • « big talk »

    Synonyms

  10. 10. generous and understanding and tolerant

    Examples

    • « a heart big enough to hold no grudges »
    • « that's very big of you to be so forgiving »
    • « a large and generous spirit »
    • « a large heart »
    • « magnanimous toward his enemies »

    Synonyms

  11. 11. given or giving freely

    Examples

    • « was a big tipper »
    • « the bounteous goodness of God »
    • « bountiful compliments »
    • « a freehanded host »
    • « a handsome allowance »
    • « Saturday's child is loving and giving »
    • « a liberal backer of the arts »
    • « a munificent gift »
    • « her fond and »

    Synonyms

  12. Adverb

    big

    Definitions

    1. extremely well

    Examples

    • « his performance went over big »
  13. 2. in a boastful manner

    Examples

    • « he talked big all evening »
  14. 3. on a grand scale

    Examples

    • « think big »

    Antonyms

  15. 4. in a major way

    Examples

    • « the play failed big at the box office »

  16. Qualitative Adjective

    big

    Etymology

    Middle English (in the sense ‘strong, mighty’): of unknown origin

    Definitions

    1. above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

    Examples

    • « 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 o »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms