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

Example sentences from the Web for biggest

This time it would be the biggest mistake for the Western press to repeat that—absolutely the biggest mistake.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive |Ayaan Hirsi Ali |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Its biggest asset, of course, is the steely Atwell, who never asks you to feel sorry for Carter despite all the sexism around her.

Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’ Stomps on the Patriarchy |Melissa Leon |January 7, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
I was already over forty, had hardly a nickel in my pocket and this was the biggest break in my life.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Postscript Of all the interviews I did Lee Marvin was by far the biggest surprise.

The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile |Robert Ward |January 3, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

Frankly, I don't think even Michael Patrick King, Lisa Kudrow, and the show's biggest fans expected it to be this good.

‘The Comeback’ Finale: Give Lisa Kudrow All of the Awards |Kevin Fallon |December 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In spite of their manners, however, these fellows are the biggest cheats on earth.

Albert Ballin |Bernhard Huldermann
I'll give ye a chance to show which on ye is the biggest fool.

Eye Spy |William Hamilton Gibson
To my mind this is a rare piece of work, and the biggest thing for its size that has been done in English fiction for some years.

The Splendid Spur |Arthur T. Quiller Couch
Stop one minute, Hugh, and help me break off the biggest icicles that are weighing down these branches until they will snap.

Poppea of the Post-Office |Mabel Osgood Wright
Yes, answered Allan, and dont you be afraid I wont turn up, for this is the biggest excursion I ever took.

On Your Mark! |Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for biggest (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 biggest (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 biggest

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

Example sentences from the Web for biggest

British Dictionary definitions for biggest (1 of 2)

adjective bigger or biggest

adverb informal

Derived forms of big

Word Origin for big

British Dictionary definitions for biggest (2 of 2)

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

Word Origin for big

Idioms and Phrases with biggest

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

Words related to biggest

Example sentences from the Web for biggest

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for biggest (1 of 2)

adjective bigger or biggest

adverb informal

Derived forms of big

Word Origin for big

British Dictionary definitions for biggest (2 of 2)

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

Word Origin for big

Idioms and Phrases with biggest

British Dictionary definitions for biggest (1 of 2)