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big

big

2.0
Important and having a strong effect
  • adjective
  • /bɪg/
translation icon : importante
  • 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?

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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

important
vsbig
1.0

A person or thing that matters a lot

is about causing a large effect or having a strong role
great
vsbig
1.0

Important and famous because of high quality or influence

focuses on creating a large effect or strong role
major
vsbig
1.0

Very serious or important

emphasizes wide-reaching effect or a central role
huge
vsbig
1.0

Very large in size, amount, or degree

centres on having a large effect rather than mere size
massive
vsbig
940 2.9

Very large and impressive in scale

is about having a large effect rather than sheer scale
enormous
vsbig
842 2.1

Very large in size, amount, or effect

refers to having a large effect rather than simple physical size
large
vsbig
718 1.0

Important and powerful in a field or group

stresses causing major effect rather than mere status
prominent
vsbig
353 3.9

Easy to see or remember because it stands out

means having a large effect rather than only being visible
large-scale
vsbig
65 3.8

Very large and affecting many people or places

is about having a large effect rather than just wide reach
sizable
vsbig
  • US
64 3.7

Quite large in size or amount

focuses on having a large effect or strong role rather than size
colossal
vsbig
55 4.7

So large in size or amount that it causes great surprise

speaks to having a large effect rather than overwhelming size
monumental
vsbig
51 5.7

Very important and impressive because of size or achievement

is about general large effect rather than exceptional grandeur
gargantuan
vsbig
19 7.3

Very large, much bigger than usual

focuses on having a strong role or wide effect
larger-than-life
vsbig
  • Informal
13 4.8

A person or thing that seems bigger and more exciting than normal

relates to having a large effect rather than dramatic appearance

Antonyms

600 2.4

Not very important or serious

104 4.1

Not important or too small to matter

Idioms

38 3.5

To a great degree and in an impressive way

14 3.4

A group of people who are close and friendly like a loving home

big cheese
  • Slang
8 5.3

A person who is very important in a group or company

7 4.5

To become very successful and famous in your work

Acting more important than you really are

1 5.5

An important person in a small group who has more power than elsewhere

1 9.9

To fail badly and lose something important

Acting too proud and thinking you are better than others

big if true
  • Texting
9.2

Something that would be very important if it is true

A large chance to succeed or move forward that will happen soon

big woop
  • Informal
9.9

A phrase that says something is not impressive or important

A playful, teasing way to say goodbye to a friend

Deeply stuck in a difficult situation that is hard to leave

suck a big one
  • Offensive
9.9

A rude, insulting phrase that tells someone to go away

Acting more confident and important than you really are

8.1

To ask why someone is doing something when you are annoyed or surprised

Compounds

586 2.1

An important thing or event that affects people

194 1.9

A person who really likes and supports someone or something

big time
  • Informal
161 4.1

A very successful level in entertainment or sport where people become famous

big boy
  • Informal
126 5.3

A grown person who is more independent and responsible, said playfully

119 3.4

An older brother who looks after and helps you

106 3.4

A view of the whole situation that shows the most important parts

big shot
  • Informal
91 3.9

A person who is important and powerful in a job or field

84 2.0

A large amount of money, especially as earnings or profit

71 3.3

Large, powerful companies that influence society and politics

big bucks
  • Informal
61 4.2

A lot of money that someone earns or gets

56 1.0

A sister who is older than you

54 2.7

Something that many people like or buy, especially in one group

51 3.0

The highest level of sports competition, like the major leagues in baseball

50 2.2

An important choice that can change your life

big girl
  • Informal
50 2.3

A girl who acts like an adult and takes responsibility

50 2.3

An important sports event like a championship final that many people watch

big mouth
  • Offensive
49 4.8

A person who talks too much and tells other people's secrets

47 1.0

A wide friendly movement of the mouth that shows happiness

43 3.5

A famous and important person or group in one area

41 3.2

An important plan or reason that guides a project

41 1.0

A family with many people, often including several children

big break
  • Informal
38 3.2

An important chance that helps a person become successful in their career

38 2.0

An important occasion when people come together, like a wedding or concert

38 3.0

A cinema where films are shown to many people

big deal
  • Informal
37 3.8

An important person who is treated as successful or powerful

30 3.2

A large television screen used to watch films or videos

big baby
  • Offensive
28 5.0

A person who acts like a child by being very sensitive or complaining

27 7.0

A person or organization that watches and controls people's lives too closely

26 2.0

An important part in an event or process

26 2.4

A person who is very kind and ready to help others

big data
  • Specialized
23 3.7

Large sets of information that people analyze with computers to find patterns

big bang
  • Specialized
23 4.6

The moment when the universe begins to expand

19 1.0

The largest toe on the inside of the foot

the Big One
  • Informal
19 7.9

A very large earthquake that causes great damage, often expected in California

18 2.9

Loud applause from an audience to show strong approval

An important public message about news or plans

16 3.0

A large group of musicians that plays jazz or dance music with instruments like trumpets and saxophones

15 5.1

Very expensive and costing a lot of money

15 3.8

Large wild animals like elephants or lions that people hunt for sport

15 4.2

A person who buys many expensive things to show off

14 2.1

A large, important task that takes a lot of time and effort

big fish
  • Informal
14 3.6

An important person in a group or organization who has power

12 2.8

Large wild cats like lions or tigers that can roar

big oil
  • Literature
12 3.2

Large companies in the oil industry that have much money and political power

11 3.2

A pattern of seven bright stars that looks like a large ladle in the northern sky

10 4.2

Having a naturally large, wide body frame and broad shoulders

10 2.5

A loud, happy sound people make when something is very funny

big gun
  • Informal
9 5.1

An important person with power in a company or field

big brother
  • Literature
8 4.8

A powerful government or company that watches people and their private information

8 3.3

A large bell and clock in the tower at the Houses of Parliament in London

big lug
  • Informal
7 6.1

A large clumsy person who is kind and liked

7 3.8

An event when something surprising and important is made known after waiting

big pharma
  • Literature
5 5.1

Large drug companies seen as putting profit before people's health

5 3.5

A large tent used for circus shows

Big Bang theory
  • Specialized
4 4.1

An idea that the universe began when a hot, very dense point expanded quickly

big kahuna
  • Slang
4 9.5

A very important person in a group or organization, often the most powerful

3 4.6

A nickname for the New York Stock Exchange at 11 Wall Street

big board
  • Jargon
3 6.3

A large electronic screen at the New York Stock Exchange that shows stock prices and activity

3 6.9

A show of force used to make others do what you want

big tree
  • Specialized
3 3.5

A very tall evergreen tree from California, for example a giant sequoia

2 3.4

A loud sudden noise like an explosion

2 3.0

A person who eats a lot of food

2 1.0

The longer hand on a clock that points to the minutes

Big Bad Wolf
  • Literature
2 3.2

A wolf in children's stories who hurts or tricks people

Big Blue
  • Specialized
2 8.4

A very large powerful bomb the US military uses to destroy enemy positions

2 7.4

A large electronic or physical board that shows current stock prices at an exchange

big science
  • Specialized
2 5.2

Large scientific projects that need a lot of money and many people to make big discoveries

big dog
  • Informal
2 6.7

A person who is very important and powerful in a group

big daddy
  • Slang
1 8.1

An important person who makes key decisions for a group

big and bad
  • Informal
1 6.8

Very large and so strong that it scares or impresses people

A film version of a book or play made for the cinema

1 5.1

A beautiful coastal area in central California with high cliffs and a rugged coast

Big Tech
  • Literature
1 3.2

Large technology companies that dominate the internet, online services, and social media

How Important

crucial
469 3.6
major
1.0
important
1.0
big
2.0
notable
112 3.7
minor
600 2.4
insignificant
104 4.1

Surface Forms

big positive
bigger comparative
biggest superlative

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.