great Hear it!

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great definition

great (grāt)

adjective

  1. of much more than ordinary size, extent, volume, etc.; esp.,
    1. designating a thing or group of things larger than others of the same kind the great cats are tigers, lions, etc.; the Great Lakes
    2. large in number, quantity, etc.; numerous a great company
    3. long in duration a great while
  2. much higher in some quality or degree; much above the ordinary or average; esp.,
    1. existing in a high degree; intense a great light, great pain
    2. very much of a; acting much as (something specified) a great reader
    3. eminent; distinguished; illustrious; superior a great playwright
    4. very impressive or imposing; remarkable great ceremony
    5. having or showing nobility of mind, purpose, etc.; grand a great man, great ideas
  3. of most importance; main; chief the great seal
  4. Informal clever; expert; skillful: usually with at great at tennis
  5. ☆ Informal excellent; splendid; fine
  6. Now Chiefly Dial. pregnant
    chiefly in great with child

Etymology: ME grete < OE great, akin to Ger gross, Du groot < IE base *ghrēu-, rub hard over, crumble > grit, Welsh gro, sand: basic sense “coarse, coarsegrained”

adverb

Informal very well

noun

a great or distinguished person: usually used in pl.

Related Forms:

great Idioms

great on

Informal enthusiastic about

the great

those who are great

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms great idiom

great Synonyms

great

modif.

  1. Eminent

    noble, grand, august, majestic, dignified, exalted, commanding, puissant, famous, renowned, widely acclaimed, Olympic, famed, celebrated, distinguished, noted, illustrious, highly regarded, conspicuous, elevated, prominent, high, stately, honorable, lordly, princely, magnificent, glorious, regal, royal, kingly, imposing, peerless, preeminent, unrivaled, fabulous, fabled, storied.

    Antonyms obscure*, retired*, anonymous. *

  2. Large

    numerous, big, vast; see large 1.

  3. *Excellent

    exceptional, surpassing, transcendant; see excellent.

  4. Extensive

    inclusive, all-embracing, sweeping; see comprehensive. See syn. study at large.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

great Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • deal: However, a great deal has stayed in the gulf region.

Modifying Another Word

  • far: This concentration of retail power is far greater than in the rest of the EU or in the US markets.

Infinitive complement

  • hear: Steve 28 February, 2002 Steve, It is great to hear that GA is working for you like it worked for me.

Used with adjective complement

  • look: For the most part, the density looks great.

Preposition: for

  • snack: Again great for a snack to eat whilst waiting for the remainder of the food to cook.

Preposition: than

  • sum: The Enterprise Alliance exemplifies that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
great usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

great quotes

There is sometimes a greater judgement shewn in deviating from the rules of art, than in adhering to them; and†there ismore beauty inthe works of a great genius who is ignorant of all the rules of art, than in the works of a little genius, who not only knows but scrupulously observes them.

-Addison,Joseph

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

-Bible (Old Testament)

It is of the L mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Theyare new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

-Bible (Old Testament)

great quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"great." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/great>

APA Style

great. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/great

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