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big Definition

big (big)

adjective big·ger, big·gest

    1. of great size, extent, or capacity; large
    2. great in amount or quantity
    3. great in force or intensity a big wind
    1. full-grown
    2. elder his big sister
    1. far advanced in pregnancy (with)
    2. filled or swelling (with)
  1. loud
    1. important or outstanding to do big things
    2. very well known; famous
    3. popular; very well liked
  2. boastful; pompous; extravagant big talk
  3. ☆ generous; noble a big heart

Etymology: ME < Gmc *bugja, swollen up, thick (> bug & Norw dial. bugge, big man) < IE base *beu-, *bheu-, to blow up, swell > puck, L bucca, puffed cheek

adverb big·ger, big·gest

  1. pompously; boastfully; extravagantly to talk big
  2. impressively
  3. in a broad way; showing imagination think big!

big Related Forms

big·ness noun

big Synonyms

big

modif.

  1. Of great size

    large, huge, great; see high 1, large 1, long 1.

  2. Grown, or partially grown

    grown-up, full-grown, adult, elder; see mature 1.

  3. Important

    prominent, significant, influential, consequential; see important 1, 2.

  4. Pompous

    presumptuous, pretentious, boastful, imperious; see egotistic 2, pompous, proud 2.

  5. Loud

    roaring, deafening, heavy; see loud 1.

  6. Generous

    magnanimous, liberal, unselfish; see generous 1, 2.

  7. With child

    gravid, parturient, expecting*; see pregnant 1.

  8. *Pompously

    pretentiously, boastfully, ostentatiously, flamboyantly; see pompously. See syn. study at large.

big Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

make: Problems occur because these sticky patches can catch any debris in the blood which in turn makes the plaques bigger.

Modifying Another Word

  • too: Schedule The schedule is too big to successfully transfer to a text file - sorry.
  • even: The whole ghastly mess must be made even bigger!
  • pretty: Indiana Jones is about to make a pretty big comeback.
  • much: The Mac Mini is a headless computer not much bigger than a large paperback novel.
  • slightly: NTT DoCoMo ran into similar problems and recently announced the delay of its service on a slightly bigger island: Japan.
  • really: The build-up to a really big Tsunami seems to be rather paradoxical: the tide actually goes out - much further than usual.

Infinitive complement

  • accommodate: Moving home - the DIY route Make sure you hire a van big enough to accommodate your items in one trip.
  • fit: It's not too big to fit in a roomy pocket but you'll undoubtedly notice carrying it.

Modifies a noun

  • difference: A quality pool experience can make a big difference to your earning potential.
  • fan: I used to be a big convenience food fan.
  • picture: Still, I suppose there must be a broadly believable big picture?
  • screen: The big screen will remain for major sporting events, however.
  • challenge: Three wins out of three, our biggest challenge was still to come against top of the table UWE.
  • hit: This is a big hit at the Nautical Inn!

Used with adjective complement

  • get: In the race of life they start behind and the gap gets bigger as they get older.
  • think: Now local authorities need to start ' thinking big ' .
  • become: If the plaques become bigger they can cut off part or all of the blood going to or from the retina.
  • look: When I meant ultra-compact, I'm not kidding -- the L1 makes the Digital ELPH look big.
  • feel: A diagonal line of vision across a square space makes the space feel bigger.

Browse dictionary entries near big

  1. bifurcation
  2. bifurcate
  3. bifteck
  4. Bifrost
  5. biform
  6. bifoliolate
  7. bifoliate
  8. bifocals
  9. bifocal
  10. biflagellate
  1. Big Apple
  2. big band
  3. Big Bang
  4. big-bang theory
  5. Big Ben
  6. Big Blue
  7. Big Board
  8. big brother
  9. big business
  10. Big C