big

[ big ]

/ bɪg /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR big ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, big·ger, big·gest.

large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.

of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem.

outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success.

important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field.

grown-up; mature: big enough to know better.

elder: my big sister.

doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance: big government.

consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry: Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.

Informal. known or used widely; popular: Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.

magnanimous; generous; kindly: big enough to forgive.

boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty: a big talker.

loud; orotund: a big voice.

(of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted: a big shirt; the big look.

(of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.

filled; brimming: eyes big with tears.

Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. pregnant.

Obsolete. very strong; powerful.

adverb

Informal. boastfully; pretentiously: to act big; to talk big.

Informal. with great success; successfully: to go over big.

noun

the bigs, Sports Slang. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.

Idioms for big

be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for: Mother is big on family get-togethers.

big with child. great(def 23).

Origin of big

1250–1300; Middle English big(ge) < ?

SYNONYMS FOR big

1 huge, immense; bulky, massive; capacious, voluminous; extensive. See great.

4 consequential.

15 overflowing, flooded.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR big ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR big

1 little.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR big ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM big

big·gish, adjective big·ly, adverb, adjective

Words nearby big

bifrost, bifter, bifunctional, bifurcate, bifurcation, big, big and bold, big apple, big apple, the, big as life, big bad wolf

Definition for big (2 of 4)

big ²

or bigg

[ big ]

/ bɪg /

verb (used with object), bigged, big·ging. British Dialect.

to build.

Origin of big

1150–1200; Middle English biggen orig., to inhabit < Old Norse byggja to inhabit, cognate with Old English bū(i)an, German bauen

Definition for big (3 of 4)

big ³

[ big ]

/ bɪg /

noun Scot. and North England.

bigg¹.

Definition for big (4 of 4)

bigg ¹

or big

[ big ]

/ bɪg /

noun Scot. and North England.

four-rowed barley.

Origin of bigg

1400–50; late Middle English big, bigge < Old Norse bygg barley, cognate with Old English bēow

Example sentences from the Web for big

In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.

The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists |Michael Daly |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
The Big Five banks dubbed too big to fail, are 35 percent bigger than they were when the meltdown was triggered.

Sen. Warren’s Main Street Crusade to Pressure Clinton |Eleanor Clift |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Their three-day scientific outing was paid for by Epstein and was big success.

Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking |M.L. Nestel |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
I really wanted Trenchmouth to succeed and at the time wished we were as big as Green Day.

Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness |Marlow Stern |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

The big slug happened to hit the suspect in the street, passing through his arm and then striking Police Officer Andrew Dossi.

Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown |Michael Daly |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
He did not care to show himself, and he kept one of the big trees between himself and the man all the time.

All Adrift |Oliver Optic
Wait until I get my degree, and the law cases come pouring in on me, with big fees—say, maybe I could give your dad some points!

For the Honor of Randall |Lester Chadwick
He has a big, gray shawl like your own, wrapped around his shoulders.

The Tree of Appomattox |Joseph A. Altsheler
The magazines were kept open, and every gun, big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command.

Fighting in Cuban Waters |Edward Stratemeyer
And he did come out, by far the most sneaking object for miles around on the Big Plains.

The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, June 1844 |Various

British Dictionary definitions for big (1 of 2)

big ¹

/ (bɪɡ) /

adjective bigger or biggest

of great or considerable size, height, weight, number, power, or capacity

having great significance; important a big decision

important through having power, influence, wealth, authority, etc the big four banks

(intensifier usually qualifying something undesirable) a big dope

informal considerable in extent or intensity (esp in the phrase in a big way)

eldermy big brother
grown-upwhen you're big, you can stay up later

generous; magnanimousthat's very big of you
(in combination)big-hearted

(often foll by with) brimming; full my heart is big with sadness

extravagant; boastful he's full of big talk

(of wine) full-bodied, with a strong aroma and flavour

too big for one's boots or too big for one's breeches conceited; unduly self-confident

in an advanced stage of pregnancy (esp in the phrase big with child)

big on informal enthusiastic about that company is big on research

adverb informal

boastfully; pretentiously (esp in the phrase talk big)

in an exceptional way; well his talk went over big with the audience

on a grand scale (esp in the phrase think big)

Derived forms of big

biggish, adjective bigness, noun

Word Origin for big

C13: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect bugge big man

British Dictionary definitions for big (2 of 2)

big ²

/ (bɪɡ) /

verb bigs, bigging, bigged or bug (bʌɡ) Scot

to build

to excavate (earth) into a pile

Word Origin for big

from Old Norse byggja; related to Old English būian to inhabit

Idioms and Phrases with big

big

In addition to the idioms beginning with big

big and bold
big as life
big bucks
big cheese
big daddy
big deal
big enchilada
big fish in a small pond
big head, have a
big league
big mouth, have a
big of one
big on
big shot
big stink
big time
big top
big wheel

also see:

go over big
great (big) guns
hit it big
in a big way
little frog in a big pond
make a federal case (big deal)
talk big
think big
too big for one's breeches
what's the (big) idea

Also see underbigger.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

big

adjective, big·ger, big·gest.

adverb

noun

Idioms for big

Origin of big

SYNONYMS FOR big

ANTONYMS FOR big

OTHER WORDS FROM big

Words nearby big

Definition for big (2 of 4)

or bigg

verb (used with object), bigged, big·ging. British Dialect.

Origin of big

Definition for big (3 of 4)

noun Scot. and North England.

Definition for big (4 of 4)

or big

noun Scot. and North England.

Origin of bigg

Example sentences from the Web for big

British Dictionary definitions for big (1 of 2)

adjective bigger or biggest

adverb informal

Derived forms of big

Word Origin for big

British Dictionary definitions for big (2 of 2)

verb bigs, bigging, bigged or bug (bʌɡ) Scot

Word Origin for big

Idioms and Phrases with big

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

big

adjective, big·ger, big·gest.

adverb

noun

Idioms for big

Origin of big

SYNONYMS FOR big

ANTONYMS FOR big

OTHER WORDS FROM big

Words nearby big

Definition for big (2 of 4)

or bigg

verb (used with object), bigged, big·ging. British Dialect.

Origin of big

Definition for big (3 of 4)

noun Scot. and North England.

Definition for big (4 of 4)

or big

noun Scot. and North England.

Origin of bigg

Words related to big

Example sentences from the Web for big

British Dictionary definitions for big (1 of 2)

adjective bigger or biggest

adverb informal

Derived forms of big

Word Origin for big

British Dictionary definitions for big (2 of 2)

verb bigs, bigging, bigged or bug (bʌɡ) Scot

Word Origin for big

Idioms and Phrases with big