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:
They naturally prefer institutions that can make repeated large investments and hold for decades.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Depending on the airline, the difference between the base fare and the total fare can be large.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
A week later, the apparent fuel leakage from the Minoan Pioneer bulk carrier had spread across a large area of the strait.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
With five bedrooms and five bathrooms, the property boasts ample space for large families—or for those seeking a private beach sanctuary where they can entertain friends and loved ones.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
The other package was a generous pile of large notepads, and a supply of pencils, all printed with ‘Overland Automobile Company’, also complimentary.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
The trade surplus was supported by falling energy imports as oil prices cooled, alongside larger surpluses in chemicals, machinery and vehicles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Moreover, the VIX futures are trading at larger premiums to the current price of VIX.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
This spring, refunds were larger than normal because of the new tax law, Gregory noted — but that still doesn’t fully explain the jump in loan amounts, in his view.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
While moisture is beneficial during a fire, lightning strikes on dry brush can trigger spot fires that pull resources away from the larger blaze.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Unfortunately, the colony losses from 2006 to 2020 were a precursor to a much larger crisis to come, which ultimately resulted in the Global Famine of 2100.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The country's largest latiao producer, Hong Kong-listed Weilong, made 117 million yuan from overseas sales last year, up nearly 50 percent from 2024.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Charter’s acquisition of Cox, unveiled 15 months ago, will solidify Charter’s status as the nation’s largest cable company, eclipsing Philadelphia-based Comcast Corp., which serves San Francisco and other Northern California communities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The deal combines Charter’s 31 million customers with Cox’s six million to create the nation’s largest internet and video provider by subscriber base, spanning homes and businesses around the country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
With a market capitalization of nearly $51 billion, Workday would be one of Silver Lake’s largest tech investments to date.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026
The discordant song about Clare began again, led by the largest boy in the group.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
