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.
The row has also reignited discussion around Singh himself - one of India's biggest film stars, known for hits including Padmaavat and Gully Boy, and his flamboyant, larger-than-life personality.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
“Known for his larger-than-life presence on screen and his kindness off screen, he brought joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories to countless people throughout his life and career,” the statement said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Big venues demanded big playing, and Peterson’s larger-than-life style was ideally suited to those international spaces where jazz had rarely been heard before.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
Cook is an Alabama man, born in Mobile and raised during the halcyon era of Bear Bryant, who commanded the state for nearly three decades as the University of Alabama’s larger-than-life football coach.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 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.
