big
- adjective
- /bɪg/
- When doing so, keep in mind that creating big ideas takes time and effort.
- a big idea
- the big picture
- a big deal
What do you think is your biggest flaw right now?
- What do you think is your biggest flaw right now?
- This was really the first big song from that time.
- So that's also, I think a big, big deal.
- But if you can, the big thing is to keep it.
- And so that that's really the biggest issue right now.
- That book played a big part in my novel Crash.
- Was George Bush's single biggest contributor at some point.
- That's going to be a big one, OK.
- doing a credit underwriting for, you know, big software deals. So,
- You have a really big, you know, thing.
Examples
-
Having a tight-knit, supportive family is a big reason Selena is able to handle her fame.
Academic text (2011) -
You know, this is the big question of our times.
-
This was really the first big song from that time.
-
So these are two big problems, huge problems.
-
So this is a big A+ product for me.
-
So those are the three big things for this month.
-
Rather than ask myself the big question of why I made the jump.
Academic text (2011) -
That book played a big part in my novel Crash.
-
By protecting intellectual freedom, school librarians can make a big difference in students' lives and education.
Academic text (2015) -
This is a big opportunity for our community to address climate change effectively.
Synonyms
A person or thing that matters a lot
Important and famous because of high quality or influence
Very large in size, amount, or degree
Very large and impressive in scale
Very large in size, amount, or effect
Important and powerful in a field or group
Easy to see or remember because it stands out
Very large and affecting many people or places
Quite large in size or amount
So large in size or amount that it causes great surprise
Very important and impressive because of size or achievement
Very large, much bigger than usual
A person or thing that seems bigger and more exciting than normal
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
A group of people who are close and friendly like a loving home
- Informal
An important person in a small group who has more power than elsewhere
- Informal
To ask why someone is doing something when you are annoyed or surprised
Compounds
- Informal
A very successful level in entertainment or sport where people become famous
- Specialized
Large sets of information that people analyze with computers to find patterns
- Informal
A very large earthquake that causes great damage, often expected in California
A large group of musicians that plays jazz or dance music with instruments like trumpets and saxophones
- Literature
Large companies in the oil industry that have much money and political power
- Literature
A powerful government or company that watches people and their private information
- Specialized
An idea that the universe began when a hot, very dense point expanded quickly
- Jargon
A large electronic screen at the New York Stock Exchange that shows stock prices and activity
- Specialized
A very large powerful bomb the US military uses to destroy enemy positions
- US
A large electronic or physical board that shows current stock prices at an exchange
- Specialized
Large scientific projects that need a lot of money and many people to make big discoveries
- Literature
Large technology companies that dominate the internet, online services, and social media
How Important
Surface Forms
Etymology
Big grew from meaning 'large' to also mean 'important' because bigger things often have more effect; think of something 'large' having more influence. So calling an event big means it matters a lot.