Skip to main content
big

big

1.4
Very serious and having a large effect
  • adjective
  • /bɪg/
translation icon : serio
  • Her announcement about the project felt like a big moment for everyone involved.
  • a big problem
  • a big mistake
  • in big trouble

And that, I mean, that's a big, big step.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • All fractures can have a big impact on mobility, either temporarily or long-term.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Those two things would make a big difference in the short run.

  • But can that have a big effect weeks later?

  • I think everything just seems so big and so hard right now.

  • It's not a big deal.

  • Often a small change is all it takes to make a big difference in the long run.

    Academic text (1998)
  • No one should believe that the problems are too many, too big, or too complex to solve.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Seeing these kinds of stories play out was a big part of what made the experience so memorable.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Teenagers are dealing with the big issues that face us all overtly and all at once.

    Academic text (2012)
  • What you mustn't do is say no to anyone; that's a big, big mistake.

    Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

large
vsbig
1.0

Bigger than average in size, number, or amount

highlights significant impact or severity rather than relative size
major
vsbig
1.0

Very serious or important

is about strong impact or severity rather than formal importance alone
huge
vsbig
1.0

Very large in size, amount, or degree

stresses seriousness or emotional intensity rather than physical largeness
great
vsbig
1.0

Very large in size or number

is used when an event or feeling is serious and impactful
massive
vsbig
940 2.9

Very large and impressive in scale

highlights seriousness and impact rather than physical bulk
giant
vsbig
878 1.0

Very large in size

is about serious effect or intensity rather than physical bulk
enormous
vsbig
842 2.1

Very large in size, amount, or effect

is concerned with severity and impact rather than sheer magnitude
tremendous
vsbig
794 3.0

Very large or impressive

leans on seriousness and effect rather than mere impressiveness
vast
vsbig
721 2.1

Very large in size or amount

is used for seriousness and strong effect rather than mere extent
immense
vsbig
141 3.7

Very large in size, amount, or degree

focuses on being serious or severe rather than only being huge
gigantic
vsbig
139 3.2

Very large, much bigger than normal

applies to events or feelings that are serious and impactful instead
large-scale
vsbig
65 3.8

Very large and affecting many people or places

refers instead to events or feelings with strong serious impact
sizable
vsbig
  • US
64 3.7

Quite large in size or amount

is used for matters with real seriousness and strong effect
colossal
vsbig
55 4.7

So large in size or amount that it causes great surprise

instead marks seriousness or severity of events or feelings
monumental
vsbig
51 5.7

Very important and impressive because of size or achievement

is focused on seriousness and impact rather than lasting fame or size
hefty
vsbig
45 4.1

Being large in amount and often expensive

focuses on severity and emotional or real impact rather than weight
gargantuan
vsbig
19 7.3

Very large, much bigger than usual

is reserved for matters with deep seriousness and strong impact
mega
vsbig
9 3.9

Very large in size, amount, or importance

stresses seriousness and emotional impact rather than sheer scale
mammoth
vsbig
5 3.9

Very large in size or amount

is used when an occurrence has strong seriousness or impact
hugemongous
vsbig
  • Informal
8.6

Very large, often said in a playful way

is formal and denotes real seriousness or strong emotional impact

Antonyms

600 2.4

Not very important or serious

121 3.9

Not important or serious

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 Serious

catastrophic
144 7.0
grave
  • Formal
181 4.2
serious
2.0
big
1.4
minor
600 2.4
trivial
121 3.9

Surface Forms

big positive
bigger comparative
biggest superlative

Etymology

Big can mean a serious or severe problem because something 'large' often has a bigger effect or danger. That's why we call a very serious trouble a big crisis.