large
Americanadjective
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larger,
comparative
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largest
superlative
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of more than average size, quantity, degree, etc.; exceeding that which is common to a kind or class; big; great.
a large house; a large number; in large measure; to a large extent.
- Antonyms:
- small
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on a great scale.
a large producer of kitchen equipment.
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of great scope or range; extensive; broad.
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grand or pompous.
a man given to large, bombastic talk.
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(of a map, model, etc.) representing the features of the original with features of its own that are relatively large so that great detail may be shown.
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famous; successful; important.
He's very large in financial circles.
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Obsolete. generous; bountiful; lavish.
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Obsolete.
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unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper.
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unrestrained in behavior or manner; uninhibited.
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Nautical. free.
noun
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Music. the longest note in mensural notation.
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Obsolete. generosity; bounty.
adverb
idioms
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at large,
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free from restraint or confinement; at liberty.
The murderer is still at large.
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to a considerable extent; at length.
to treat a subject at large.
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as a whole; in general.
the country at large.
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Also at-large representing the whole of a state, district, or body rather than one division or part of it.
a delegate at large.
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Also at-large having a general, as opposed to a specific, role in an organization or project.
She’s the magazine’s editor-at-large.
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in large, on a large scale; from a broad point of view: Also in the large
a problem seen in large.
adjective
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having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big
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of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive
a large effect
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having or showing great breadth of understanding
a large heart
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nautical (of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction
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rare overblown; pretentious
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generous
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obsolete (of manners and speech) gross; rude
noun
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(esp of a dangerous criminal or wild animal) free; not confined
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roaming freely, as in a foreign country
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as a whole; in general
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in full detail; exhaustively
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See ambassador
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as a totality or on a broad scale
adverb
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nautical with the wind blowing from a favourable direction
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(sentence modifier) generally; as a rule
by and large, the man is the breadwinner
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nautical towards and away from the wind
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to be very prominent or important
Usage
What are other ways to say large?
Something that is large is of more than average size, quantity, or degree. How does large compare to great and big? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of large
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin larga, feminine of largus “ample, generous”
Explanation
Large means the size of an item, such as clothing, that falls between medium and extra-large. If you realize your size has changed from medium to large, it might be time to cut back on the cupcakes. Something that is above average in size or number can be described with the adjective large. Your large collection of bottle caps, which covers the walls of three rooms in your house, is a perfect example. Large also describes something that covers a broad spectrum or scope. You might love being an American studies major because your classes cover a large range of topics.
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.
See Examples For:
Start the sauce: In a large, wide skillet or Dutch oven, heat the butter, olive oil or combination of the two over low heat.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Last weekend, The Irish Times reported, external that a large winery in County Louth has been dropped by a distributor as its labelling didn't reflect that some French grapes had been used in its production.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
But California hasn’t seen rolling blackouts since that year in large part due to its massive increase in battery energy storage, Seeley said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
A large number of corporations are already using open-weight models.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
But there are no large pickup trucks or motorcycles roaring by with Faith & Honor members.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
And as she approaches its fourth edition, it has only grown larger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
But since the results differed by ethnicity, further research is needed in larger samples to replicate the differences, she said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
Classic-car insurance allows owners to work with the insurer to set an agreed-upon value for a car, which typically results in a larger payout from a wreck than a standard car insurance policy would offer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
It’s a small question that points toward a much larger shift.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
But on the opposite wall there were larger outcrops—sideways stalactites, some small, some a foot in length, like fists sticking from the wall.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Opel is no longer even the town's largest employer.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Mexican Americans, who make up the largest Hispanic population in the United States, also have particularly high rates of diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia, conditions that can increase dementia risk.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
“That amount of concentration is broadly viewed as too deep for most portfolios,” said Holly Framsted, head of product group at Capital Group, one of the largest active-fund managers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Their largest concentration in California is in the Suisun Marsh, just south of Vacaville.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
The largest ogre reached toward me, and I batted its monstrous, hairless paw aside.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
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.
