great Definition
great (grāt)
adjective
- of much more than ordinary size, extent, volume, etc.; esp.,
- designating a thing or group of things larger than others of the same kind the great cats are tigers, lions, etc.; the Great Lakes
- large in number, quantity, etc.; numerous a great company
- long in duration a great while
- much higher in some quality or degree; much above the ordinary or average; esp.,
- existing in a high degree; intense a great light, great pain
- very much of a; acting much as (something specified) a great reader
- eminent; distinguished; illustrious; superior a great playwright
- very impressive or imposing; remarkable great ceremony
- having or showing nobility of mind, purpose, etc.; grand a great man, great ideas
- of most importance; main; chief the great seal
- Informal clever; expert; skillful: usually with at great at tennis
- ☆ Informal excellent; splendid; fine
- Now Chiefly Dial. pregnant
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.
great Related Forms
great Idioms
great on
Informal enthusiastic about
the great
those who are great
great Synonyms
great
modif.
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. * Large
*Excellent
exceptional, surpassing, transcendant; see excellent.Extensive
inclusive, all-embracing, sweeping; see comprehensive. See syn. study at large.
great Usage Examples
Modifies a noun
- deal: However, a great deal has stayed in the gulf region.
- success: We hope the campaign will be a great success.
- fun: Not only are oranges rich in vitamin C, the Koi also have great fun sucking on the flesh of the orange.
- opportunity: I think it has been a great opportunity for me.
- importance: In particular, we attach great importance to the quality of the leadership we provide.
- emphasis: His great emphasis is on the sense of a.. .
Modifying Another Word
- far: This concentration of retail power is far greater than in the rest of the EU or in the US markets.
- even: The Phase II map will offer even greater power to detect such functionally important genetic changes.
- much: First, I think there are ways in which we could go on to offer much greater diversity in assessment.
- significantly: The availability of nest boxes was significantly greater in tetrads containing breeding Barn Owls than in those with no owls.
- truly: If you know someone that is doing some truly great work, Beacon would like to hear about them.
- too: The Sixth Round of the FA Cup again proved too great a hurdle.
Infinitive complement
- hear: Steve 28 February, 2002 Steve, It is great to hear that GA is working for you like it worked for me.
- see: It's great to see things come to fruition.
Used with adjective complement
- look: For the most part, the density looks great.
- sound: I just finished listening to it and it sounds great.
- prove: The Sixth Round of the FA Cup again proved too great a hurdle.
Preposition: for
snack: Again great for a snack to eat whilst waiting for the remainder of the food to cook.
Preposition: than
Browse dictionary entries near great
- ‹ greasy spoon
- ‹ greasy
- ‹ greasewood
- ‹ greaser
- ‹ greasepaint
- ‹ greaseball
- ‹ grease pencil
- ‹ grease monkey
- ‹ grease job
- ‹ grease cup

