larger-than-life
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of larger-than-life
First recorded in 1945–50
Explanation
When something is larger-than-life, it seems more important or fascinating than anything else around it. An actor who is mild mannered and shy in person can seem larger-than-life when she's on the stage. You can use this term for something that's actually larger than usual, like Michelangelo's larger-than-life statue "David," which is three times as tall as the average man. It's also a good way to describe someone who is so flashy and flamboyant that they just seem to take up extra room: "My larger-than-life cousin makes every family gathering much more interesting."
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.
There’s no movie star to take charge, and Greengrass doesn’t inflate the passengers into larger-than-life heroes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Her larger-than-life paintings, sculptures and installations -- inspired by vivid hallucinations -- sold for millions of dollars and packed out top galleries.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The ACM hailed her "unmistakable voice, unforgettable songs, generosity and larger-than-life spirit."
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
Ed gets swept up in her performative antics and elusive, larger-than-life allure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Andrew Jackson was still an admired, larger-than-life president and war hero.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
