Alexander the Great
Americannoun
noun
Discover More
Before beginning his conquests, Alexander allegedly unloosed the Gordian knot by cutting through it. It was believed that the person who unfastened the Gordian knot would rule a vast territory in Asia. Alexander founded the city of Alexandria, which became a great center of learning in Egypt (see also Egypt).
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.
This was the city on "one of the most important trade roads in the ancient world," where the first coin was minted and Alexander the Great visited, Uğurer said.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
In recent weeks, he’s been talking to other people about Napoleon and Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, comparing himself to the most consequential Western leaders in history.
From Slate ● May 7, 2026
Of Alexander the Great that he acted on behalf of the Greek cities of Asia that he had freed from Persian rule?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 10, 2026
He has inhaled from somewhere — certainly not from studying history — an immensely dumbed-down version of the philosophy that he imagines drove Napoleon and Hitler, and perhaps Alexander the Great and Peter the Great.
From Salon ● Feb. 23, 2025
Since the days of Alexander the Great, mounted troops had proved decisive in offensive warfare and had served as an army’s eyes, ranging far afield on reconnaissance missions.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.