Definition of 'large'

large

(lɑːʳdʒ )

Word forms: comparative larger , superlative largest

1. adjective

A large thing or person is greater in size than usual or average.

The pike lives mainly in large rivers and lakes.

In the largest room about a dozen children and seven adults are sitting on the carpet.

He was a large man with thick dark hair.

Synonyms: massive, great, big, huge More Synonyms of large

2. adjective

A large amount or number of people or things is more than the average amount or number.

The gang finally fled with a large amount of cash and jewellery.

There are a large number of centres where you can take full-time courses.

The figures involved are truly very large.

Synonyms: plentiful, full, grand, liberal More Synonyms of large

3. adjective

A large organization or business does a lot of work or commercial activity and employs a lot of people.

...a large company in Chicago.

Many large organizations run courses for their employees.

4. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]

Large is used to indicate that a problem or issue which is being discussed is very important or serious.

...the already large problem of under-age drinking.

There's a very large question about the viability of the newspaper.

Synonyms: serious, important, difficult, worrying More Synonyms of large

See at large

See by and large

8. to a large extent

9. larger than life

10. to loom large

11. in large measure

usage note: Large, big, and great are all used to talk about size. In general, large is more formal than big, and great is more formal than large. Large and big are normally used to describe objects, but you can also use big to suggest that something is important or impressive. ...his influence over the big advertisers. You normally use great to emphasize the importance of someone or something. ...the great English architect, Inigo Jones. However, you can also use great to suggest that something is impressive because of its size. The great bird of prey was a dark smudge against the sun. You can use large or great, but not big, to describe amounts. ...a large amount of blood on the floor. ...the coming of tourists in great numbers. Both big and great can be used to emphasize the intensity of something, although great is more formal. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you... Most of them act like big fools.

More Synonyms of large

Video: pronunciation of
large

large in British English

(lɑːdʒ )

adjective

having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big

of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive

a large effect

having or showing great breadth of understanding

a large heart

4. nautical

(of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction

5. rare

overblown; pretentious

generous

7. obsolete

(of manners and speech) gross; rude

noun

8. See at large

9. See in large

adverb

10. nautical

with the wind blowing from a favourable direction

11. See by and large

12. See loom large

Derived forms

largeness (ˈlargeness)

noun

Word origin

C12 (originally: generous): via Old French from Latin largus ample, abundant

large in American English

(lɑrdʒ )

adjectiveWord forms: ˈlarger or ˈlargest

1. Archaic

liberal; generous

big; great

; specif.,

taking up much space; bulky

enclosing much space; spacious

a large office

of great extent or amount

a large sum

big as compared with others of its kind; of more than usual or average size, extent, or amount

comprehensive; far-reaching

to have large views on a subject

pompous or exaggerated

large talk

operating on a big scale

a large manufacturer

7. Nautical

favorable; specif., quartering

said of a wind

adverbWord forms: ˈlarger or ˈlargest

in a large way; so as to be large

to write large

9. Nautical

with a favoring wind, specif. one on the quarter

noun

10.

liberty

Examples of 'large' in a sentence
large

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

The work is now being carried on upon a large scale.It would suit a large family that likes to entertain.Orchestral music and opera are expensive because they need large numbers of people.It was difficult to train my attention to follow a narrative for large chunks of time. Wipe a whisk and a large mixing bowl with the lemon to remove any grease.It invests in a large number of smaller companies.The home side really could have won by a much larger margin.Yet press stories about data breaches keep appearing with monotonous regularity because too many businesses both large and small still take a half-hearted approach to data protection. Many of the largest remaining untapped deposits lie in a remote area to the west of the Shetland Islands.When we practise altruism on a large scale we say we are humanitarian.