large

[lahrj]

adjective

larger, largest 

1. 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.

   Synonyms: vast, massive, colossal, gigantic, immense, enormous, huge
   Antonyms: small

2. on a great scale.

   a large producer of kitchen equipment.

3. of great scope or range; extensive; broad.

4. grand or pompous.

   a man given to large, bombastic talk.

5. (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.

6. famous; successful; important.

   He's very large in financial circles.

7. Obsolete.,  generous; bountiful; lavish.

8. Obsolete.

   1. unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper.

   2. unrestrained in behavior or manner; uninhibited.

9. Nautical.,  free.

noun

1. Music.,  the longest note in mensural notation.

2. Obsolete.,  generosity; bounty.

adverb

1. Nautical.,  with the wind free or abaft the beam so that all sails draw fully.

large

/ lɑːdʒ /

adjective

1. having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big

2. of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive

   a large effect

3. having or showing great breadth of understanding

   a large heart

4. nautical (of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction

5. rare,  overblown; pretentious

6. generous

7. obsolete,  (of manners and speech) gross; rude

noun

1. 1. (esp of a dangerous criminal or wild animal) free; not confined

   2. roaming freely, as in a foreign country

   3. as a whole; in general

   4. in full detail; exhaustively

   5. See ambassador

2. as a totality or on a broad scale

adverb

1. nautical with the wind blowing from a favourable direction

2. 1. (sentence modifier) generally; as a rule

      by and large, the man is the breadwinner

   2. nautical towards and away from the wind

3. to be very prominent or important

Other Word Forms

• largeness noun
• overlarge adjective
• ultralarge adjective
• unlarge adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of large¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin larga, feminine of largus “ample, generous”

Word History and Origins

Origin of large¹

C12 (originally: generous): via Old French from Latin largus ample, abundant

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at large,

   1. free from restraint or confinement; at liberty.

      The murderer is still at large.

   2. to a considerable extent; at length.

      to treat a subject at large.

   3. as a whole; in general.

      the country at large.

   4. Also at-large representing the whole of a state, district, or body rather than one division or part of it.

      a delegate at large.

   5. 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.

2. in large, on a large scale; from a broad point of view: Also in the large

   a problem seen in large.

see at large; big (large) as life; by and large; cog in the (a large) wheel; in some (large) measure; loom large; writ large.

Example Sentences

Still others prefer to keep such conversations among their fellow vets, in large part because they feel that people who haven’t served can’t fully understand what they went through.

From Salon

However, exploration has identified large swathes of shale gas across the UK, particularly in northern England.

From BBC

A large police scene remains in place in Watery Street between its junctions with Meadow Street and Montgomery Terrace Road.

From BBC

Education Secretary Phillipson and former Commons Leader Powell both wore dark blue dresses as they sat to one side of the giant stage, with a large podium standing empty in the middle.

From BBC

Among investors’ concerns are public policies such as the United to House Los Angeles transfer tax on large real estate sales, and also temporary limits on evicting tenants that were enacted during the pandemic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• broad 
• considerable 
• enormous 
• extensive 
• full 
• generous 
• giant 
• gigantic 
• grand 
• great 
• hefty 
• huge 
• immense 
• massive 
• populous 
• sizable 
• spacious 
• substantial 
• vast 
• wide 

When To Use

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.