large

[ lahrj ]

adjective

, larg·er, larg·est.

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: massive, colossal, gigantic, immense, enormous, huge, vast

   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 ( def 33 ).

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. at large
   at large
   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. ambassador-at-large See ambassador
2. in large
   in largein the large as a totality or on a broad scale

adverb

1. nautical with the wind blowing from a favourable direction
2. by and large
   by and large
   1. sentence modifier generally; as a rule

      by and large, the man is the breadwinner

   2. nautical towards and away from the wind
3. loom large
   loom large to be very prominent or important

Derived Forms

• ˈlargeness, noun

Other Words From

• largeness noun
• over·large adjective
• ultra·large adjective
• un·large 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.

More idioms and phrases containing 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

In 2019, the AOS rejected an earlier proposal to rename the McCown’s longspur, in large part because there was no policy in place for changing a name based on offensiveness.

From Outside Online

In less than two years, SpaceX launched more than 1,000 new satellites for its Starlink constellation, becoming the world’s largest satellite operator and increasing the number of active satellites by nearly a third.

From Quartz

It directly reflects a set of larger problems facing helmet makers.

From Outside Online

A large part of the value comes from the number of other people on it.

From ProPublica

In other large cities, from Los Angeles to Miami, there were parallel efforts to grow the sport but little coordination.

From Washington Post

A fourth suspect, a 26-year-old woman named Hayat Boumeddiene, remains at large.

From The Daily Beast

However much we gossip about heterosexual couples with large age gaps, we at least refrain from calling them sex offenders.

From The Daily Beast

I think a large majority of our fans are [other] nationalities.

From The Daily Beast

Drugeon survived an airstrike last year and is believed to be still at large, officials have said.

From The Daily Beast

Late Wednesday night, French authorities reported that Mourad had surrendered to police, while the two brothers remained at large.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Jones swung round a large iron key he held in his hand, and light dawned upon him.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes in the case of large plants, cones have been known to occur on the tips of the branches of the Marsh Horsetail.

From Project Gutenberg

The thought seemed to produce the dreaded object, for next moment a large hummock appeared right ahead.

From Project Gutenberg

In the entrance hall of the Savoy, where large and lonely porters were dozing, he learnt that she was at home.

From Project Gutenberg

His nose was hooked and rather large, his eyes were blue, bright as steel, and set a trifle wide.

From Project Gutenberg

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.