English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'great'

Word Frequency

great

(greɪt )
Word forms: comparative greater , superlative greatest , plural greats
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You use great to describe something that is very large. Great is more formal than big.
The room had a great bay window.
...a great hall as long and high as a church.
Synonyms: large, big, huge, vast   More Synonyms of great
2. adjective
Great means large in amount or degree.
I'll take great care of it.
Benjamin Britten did not live to a great age.
Synonyms: extreme, considerable, excessive, high   More Synonyms of great
3. adjective
You use great to describe something that is important, famous, or exciting.
...the great cultural achievements of the past.
America can be great again.
Synonyms: major, lead, leading, chief   More Synonyms of great
greatness   uncountable noun
A nation must take certain risks to achieve greatness.
Synonyms: strength, force, intensity, high degree   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: grandeur, dignity, majesty, generosity   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: importance, moment, weight, import [formal]   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: immensity, size, mass, length   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: grandeur, glory, majesty, splendour   More Synonyms of great
4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You can describe someone who is successful and famous for their actions, knowledge, or skill as great.
Wes Hall was once one of the West Indies' great cricketers.
...the great George Padmore.
Synonyms: expert, skilled, talented, skilful   More Synonyms of great
greatness   uncountable noun
Abraham Lincoln achieved greatness.
Synonyms: strength, force, intensity, high degree   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: grandeur, dignity, majesty, generosity   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: importance, moment, weight, import [formal]   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: immensity, size, mass, length   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: grandeur, glory, majesty, splendour   More Synonyms of great
Synonyms: fame, glory, celebrity, distinction   More Synonyms of great
5. plural noun
The greats in a particular subject or field of activity are the people who have been most successful or famous in it.
[journalism]
...all the greats of Hollywood.
...cycling's all-time greats.
6. plural noun
The greats of popular modern music are records that have been successful and that continue to be popular.
[journalism]
...a medley of rock'n'roll greats.
7. adjective
If you describe someone or something as great, you approve of them or admire them.
[informal, approval]
Arturo has this great place in Cazadero.
They're a great bunch of guys.
I think she's great.
8. adjective
If you feel great, you feel very healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic.
I feel just great.
9. adjective
You use great in order to emphasize the size or degree of a characteristic or quality.
[emphasis]
...a great big Italian wedding.
...her sense of colour and great eye for detail.
10. exclamation
You say great in order to emphasize that you are pleased or enthusiastic about something.
[feelings]
Oh great! That'll be good for Fergus.
11. exclamation
You say great in order to emphasize that you are angry or annoyed about something.
[feelings]
'Oh great,' I thought. 'Just what I need.'
12. countable noun
Great is used as part of the name of a species of plant or animal when there is another species of the same plant or animal which is smaller and has different characteristics.
...the great white shark.
13.  See also greater
More Synonyms of great
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency

great in British

(ɡreɪt )
adjective
1. 
relatively large in size or extent; big
2. 
relatively large in number; having many parts or members
a great assembly
3. 
of relatively long duration
a great wait
4. 
of larger size or more importance than others of its kind
the great auk
5. 
extreme or more than usual
great worry
6. 
of significant importance or consequence
a great decision
7. 
a. 
of exceptional talents or achievements; remarkable
a great writer
b. 
(as noun)
the great
one of the greats
8. 
arising from or possessing idealism in thought, action, etc; heroic
great deeds
9. 
illustrious or eminent
a great history
10. 
impressive or striking
a great show of wealth
11. 
much in use; favoured
poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era
12. 
active or enthusiastic
a great walker
13. 
doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale
what a great buffoon
he's not a great one for reading
14. (often foll by at)
skilful or adroit
a great carpenter
you are great at singing
15. informal
excellent; fantastic
16. British informal
(intensifier)
a dirty great smack in the face
17. (postpositive; foll by with) archaic
a. 
pregnant
great with child
b. 
full (of)
great with hope
18. 
(intensifier, used in mild oaths)
Great Scott!
19.  be great on
adverb
20. informal
very well; excellently
it was working great
noun
21. Also called: great organ
the principal manual on an organ
Compare choir (sense 4), swell (sense 16)
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
greatly (ˈgreatly)
  adverb
greatness (ˈgreatness)
  noun
Word origin of 'great'
Old English grēat; related to Old Frisian grāt, Old High German grōz; see grit, groat
Word Frequency

great in American

(greɪt ; grāt)
adjective
1. 
of much more than ordinary size, extent, volume, etc.
; esp.,
a. 
designating a thing or group of things larger than others of the same kind
the great cats are tigers, lions, etc.; the Great Lakes
b. 
large in number, quantity, etc.; numerous
a great company
c. 
long in duration
a great while
2. 
much higher in some quality or degree; much above the ordinary or average
; esp.,
a. 
existing in a high degree; intense
a great light, great pain
b. 
very much of a; acting much as (something specified)
a great reader
c. 
eminent; distinguished; illustrious; superior
a great playwright
d. 
very impressive or imposing; remarkable
great ceremony
e. 
having or showing nobility of mind, purpose, etc.; grand
a great man, great ideas
3. 
of most importance; main; chief
the great seal
4.  Informal
clever; expert; skillful
usually with at
great at tennis
5.  US, Informal
excellent; splendid; fine
6.  Chiefly Dialectal
pregnant
: chiefly in great with child
adverb
7.  Informal
very well
noun
8. 
a great or distinguished person
usually used in pl.
SIMILAR WORDS:  large
Idioms:
great on
the great
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
greatly (ˈgreatly)
  adverb
greatness (ˈgreatness)
  noun
Word origin of 'great'
ME grete < OE great, akin to Ger gross, Du groot < IE base *ghrēu-, rub hard over, crumble > grit, Welsh gro, sand: basic sense “coarse, coarsegrained”

Example sentences containing 'great'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
And it does not get a great deal worse than this. The Sun (2017)Social media is great but people voice their opinions in the wrong way sometimes. Times, Sunday Times (2016)It was my first time but she made me feel great. The Sun (2017)Jumping in the ocean is one of the great joys in my life. The Sun (2016)While they are big in area, many of the great modern reservoirs can be disappointing for birds. Times, Sunday Times (2016)The controls clearly show which speed is suitable for which task, with a great number and variety of options. Times, Sunday Times (2016)Let's go make something great! Times, Sunday Times (2016)IT has been a sad year for music with many all-time greats passing away. The Sun (2016)He said: 'It was a great day. The Sun (2016)She said:'I will say it is great to have a woman in charge of the country. The Sun (2016)You may also need to move quickly if you wish to secure a great deal. Times, Sunday Times (2011)We feel great sadness when a person dies or is hurt on our land. Times, Sunday Times (2008)One of the great modern managerial careers now hinges on a long shot. Times, Sunday Times (2016)There are a great number of exercise ideas to choose from. Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)So often one great performance will overwhelm the rest. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Which is not to say the great gutting was unnecessary. Times, Sunday Times (2013)Why are empty bottles and pools of vomit the decor of so much great literature? Times, Sunday Times (2015)That you say you have something of great importance to our cause. Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)Being on the ocean was another of her great pleasures. Times, Sunday Times (2014)Washington has to recognise that it needs a great deal of help. Times, Sunday Times (2006)We made a renewed commitment to use great works of art in our own ministry back home. Christianity Today (2000)To work with that group of people has been great. Times, Sunday Times (2007)She also had great taste in music. Times, Sunday Times (2008)To take up this great offer go to our website. The Sun (2014)Some of these new services have great views from the top deck. The Sun (2013)My free leaflet on how to get a great social life is full of ideas. The Sun (2006)Then you notice the whacking great big lighthouse back left. Times, Sunday Times (2011)The guys behind the scenes are doing a great job. Times, Sunday Times (2013)We beat the greats of cinema. Times, Sunday Times (2009)So how do they match up against the all-time greats? Times, Sunday Times (2010)So just to be back at Wembley again is great. The Sun (2010)He is quick and skilful, he has great and scores tries. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The island is also renowned as the great white shark capital of Australia. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The Olympics would have been good but not great. Times, Sunday Times (2012)He said: 'It would be great to see her win one of them' The Sun (2010)

Trends of 'great'

Extremely Common. great is one of the 1000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Nearby words of 'great'

  • greasy pole
  • greasy spoon
  • greasy wool
  • great
  • great ape
  • Great Attractor
  • great auk

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'G'

Related Terms of 'great'

  • great-
  • great ape
  • great auk
  • Great Dog
  • great on

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of great from the Collins English Dictionary

Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs are verbs that do not form the past simple tense and the past participle by adding -ed to the base form. The three main groups of irregular verbs In Group A, the base form, the past...
Read more about 'Irregular verbs'
Word of the day:
triplane
an aeroplane having three wings arranged one above the other
See full definition
Apr 21, 2018
Fed up with the great British weather? Here’s how to afford that dream summer escape
From planning early to knowing where to look, these top tips will help you fulfil your summer holiday desires
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'great': 6
Latest Word Submissions
Barrecore Apr 18, 2018
wido Apr 18, 2018
centimorgan Apr 17, 2018
gender expansive Apr 16, 2018
Carthritis Apr 15, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018