great
Looking for the meaning of great? Explore definitions, parts of speech, and usage examples below.
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A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
“Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.”
The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
“My three-greats grandmother.”
Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.
“A great storm is approaching our shores.”
Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.
“the great auk”
(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]
“great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather”
(followed by 'with') Pregnant; large with young; full of.
“great with child”
(except with 'friend' and similar words such as 'mate','buddy') Intimate; familiar.
Extreme or more than usual.
“great worry”
Of significant importance or consequence; important.
“a great decision”
(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.
“a great deed”
Impressive or striking.
“a great show of wealth”
Much in use; favoured.
“Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.”
(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.
“a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.”
Title referring to an important leader.
“Alexander the Great”
Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.
“He's not a great one for reading.”
(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.
“You are great at singing.”
Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic (from 1848).
“Dinner was great.”
Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.
“Great Scott!”
Very well (in a very satisfactory manner).
“Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.”
Expression of gladness and content about something.
“Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.”
Sarcastic inversion thereof.
“Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.”
Understanding "great"
The word **"great"** is a **noun** in the English language. It is phonetically pronounced as **/ɡɹeɪt/**. Explore the detailed meaning, morphological structure, and usage examples for **"great"** in our dictionary below.
The English language is incredibly vast, and diving into the definition of the word "great" provides a perfect example of its linguistic depth. Categorized primarily as a noun, the term "great" holds specific syntactical roles within a sentence, allowing speakers and writers to convey precise meaning. Understanding how this word functions is an excellent step towards mastering advanced English vocabulary and improving overall reading comprehension.
For those looking to perfect their spoken English, noting the phonetic pronunciation of "great" is crucial. It is typically transcribed as /ɡɹeɪt/. Proper enunciation ensures that your intended message is received clearly, preventing miscommunication in both formal and casual settings. Linguistic scholars often track the phonological evolution of words like "great" to understand broader historical shifts in dialects and accents across different English-speaking populations.
When deciding how to use "great" in everyday communication, it helps to look at exactly how it operates as a noun. In professional writing, academic essays, and creative literature, choosing the perfect vocabulary word can drastically elevate the tone of the text. Because "great" carries its own unique connotations and denotations, swapping it for a simpler synonym might dilute the impact of your sentence.
Our comprehensive dictionary tool is designed to provide immediate, reliable definitions for thousands of terms, including "great". By consistently exploring the nuances of vocabulary—including phonetics (/ɡɹeɪt/), part of speech (noun), and usage examples—you can significantly expand your linguistic repertoire. Bookmark this page as a quick reference tool whenever you encounter "great" in reading materials or wish to incorporate it into your active vocabulary.
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Refer to the usage examples above to see how "great" can be used in academic and casual conversations.