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:
Arizona faces especially large cutbacks because the CAP isn’t nearly as old as other aqueducts, giving it low-priority water rights and putting it among the first in line for cuts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Evidence presented showed more than £370,000 had left the resident's account over five years, with £160,000 of that from making large cash withdrawals at ATMs.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
In New York he made friends with a large group of gifted fellow students, including Rockwell Kent, George Bellows and Guy Pène du Bois.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
He has recruited young politicians with large online followings, including Ana Elisa, a 21-year-old newly elected lawmaker from Minas Gerais state who has millions of followers.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The cub’s large ears swiveled to catch the sound.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
The EU collectively remains a much larger market for Ukrainian exports, but China has become an important supplier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
A more efficient chip can improve operating economics while a larger deployment consumes additional cash.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Rodriguez sees those tensions as a consequence of a much larger and complex history.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
You see patterns from the first film that then repeat themselves, but on a much larger scale, in the second film.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
For a time, her sisters, Kate and Maggie Fox, held greater power and a larger place in the public consciousness as the original spirit mediums.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
The Amazon rainforest - the world's largest - is a crucial buffer in the global fight against climate change and 60% of it is located in Brazil.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026
A big hurdle is getting enough jet engines, said Eveline Buchatskiy, managing partner of D3, one of Ukraine’s largest defense investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Producer prices surged 1.3% in September, the largest monthly increase in more than four years and roughly twice what economists expected.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, has plummeted to its lowest water level since it was filled some 90 years ago.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
On April 2, the nation’s largest subprime mortgage lender, New Century, was swamped by defaults and filed for bankruptcy.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
