big
1large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.
of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem.
outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success.
important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field.
elder: my big sister.
doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance: big government.
consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry: Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.
Informal. known or used widely; popular: Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.
magnanimous; generous; kindly: big enough to forgive.
boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty: a big talker.
(of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted: a big shirt; the big look.
(of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
filled; brimming: eyes big with tears.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. pregnant1 (def. 1).
Obsolete. very strong; powerful.
Informal. boastfully; pretentiously: to act big; to talk big.
Informal. with great success; successfully: to go over big.
the bigs, Sports Slang. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.
Idioms about big
be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for: Mother is big on family get-togethers.
big with child. great (def. 23).
Origin of big
1Other words for big
| 1 | huge, immense; bulky, massive; capacious, voluminous; extensive |
| 4 | consequential |
| 15 | overflowing, flooded |
Opposites for big
Other words from big
- biggish, adjective
- bigly, adverb, adjective
Other definitions for big (2 of 2)
or bigg
to build.
Origin of big
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use big in a sentence
This time it would be the biggest mistake for the Western press to repeat that—absolutely the biggest mistake.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive | Ayaan Hirsi Ali | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIts biggest asset, of course, is the steely Atwell, who never asks you to feel sorry for Carter despite all the sexism around her.
I was already over forty, had hardly a nickel in my pocket and this was the biggest break in my life.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTPostscript Of all the interviews I did Lee Marvin was by far the biggest surprise.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTFrankly, I don't think even Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow, and the show's biggest fans expected it to be this good.
‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards | Kevin Fallon | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Don't waste your valuable time looking for the biggest angleworm in the garden!
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileyI wouldn't part for a second with the certainty that I am the biggest figure in young England to-day.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonIt was from the biggest face that the voice had come, and Dorothy responded with a courteous "Good-morning!"
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondWhat would follow, the Biggest Boy did not say; but he had pulled off his coat, and there was none to dispute him.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydMy smithy lies yonder, beyond that turn of the road and behind the biggest oak tree in the country.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn Raymond
British Dictionary definitions for big (1 of 2)
/ (bɪɡ) /
of great or considerable size, height, weight, number, power, or capacity
having great significance; important: a big decision
important through having power, influence, wealth, authority, etc: the big four banks
(intensifier usually qualifying something undesirable): a big dope
informal considerable in extent or intensity (esp in the phrase in a big way)
elder: my big brother
grown-up: when you're big, you can stay up later
generous; magnanimous: that's very big of you
(in combination): big-hearted
(often foll by with) brimming; full: my heart is big with sadness
extravagant; boastful: he's full of big talk
(of wine) full-bodied, with a strong aroma and flavour
too big for one's boots or too big for one's breeches conceited; unduly self-confident
in an advanced stage of pregnancy (esp in the phrase big with child)
big on informal enthusiastic about: that company is big on research
boastfully; pretentiously (esp in the phrase talk big)
in an exceptional way; well: his talk went over big with the audience
on a grand scale (esp in the phrase think big)
Origin of big
1- See also big up
Derived forms of big
- biggish, adjective
- bigness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for big (2 of 2)
/ (bɪɡ) /
to build
to excavate (earth) into a pile
Origin of big
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with big
In addition to the idioms beginning with big
- big and bold
- big as life
- big bucks
- big cheese
- big daddy
- big deal
- big enchilada
- big fish in a small pond
- big head, have a
- big league
- big mouth, have a
- big of one
- big on
- big shot
- big stink
- big time
- big top
- big wheel
also see:
- go over big
- great (big) guns
- hit it big
- in a big way
- little frog in a big pond
- make a federal case (big deal)
- talk big
- think big
- too big for one's breeches
- what's the (big) idea
Also see underbigger.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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