big
∞
1.4
- adjective
- /bɪg/
- Her announcement about the project felt like a big moment for everyone involved.
- a big problem
- a big mistake
- in big trouble
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Watch on YouTubeAnd that, I mean, that's a big, big step.
- And that, I mean, that's a big, big step.
- And so that was like a big kind of shocker.
- We were not having that big of an issue.
- So when we feel that big fear, that's a good sign.
- And it was a big, big flash and he was gone.
- You know, I, I, I just love a big nasty problem.
- And I think that there's a big gulf between the two.
- Last one, take big risks early, not later.
- It didn't, it didn't bring any sort of big issues out, no big fights.
- The potential for a really big mess is brewing right now.
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
∞
1.0
Bigger than average in size, number, or amount
∞
1.0
Very large in size or number
∞
1.0
Very large in size, amount, or degree
∞
1.0
Very serious or important
975
1.0
Very large in size
944
2.9
Very large and impressive in scale
754
2.1
Very large in size, amount, or effect
671
3.0
Very large or impressive
650
2.1
Very large in size or amount
145
3.2
Very large, much bigger than normal
132
3.7
Very large in size, amount, or degree
121
3.8
Very large and affecting many people or places
101
3.9
Very large in size, amount, or importance
61
3.7
Quite large in size or amount
56
4.7
So large in size or amount that it causes great surprise
54
5.7
Very important and impressive because of size or achievement
53
4.1
Being large in amount and often expensive
22
3.9
Very large in size or amount
19
7.3
Very large, much bigger than usual
Very large, often said in a playful way
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
16
3.4
A group of people who are close and friendly like a loving home
- Informal
6
8.1
To ask why someone is doing something when you are annoyed or surprised
- Informal
2
5.5
An important person in a small group who has more power than elsewhere
Compounds
- Informal
131
4.1
A very successful level in entertainment or sport where people become famous
- Literature
34
3.2
Large companies in the oil industry that have much money and political power
- Specialized
29
3.7
Large sets of information that people analyze with computers to find patterns
27
3.0
A large group of musicians that plays jazz or dance music with instruments like trumpets and saxophones
- Informal
10
7.9
A very large earthquake that causes great damage, often expected in California
- Jargon
8
6.3
A large electronic screen at the New York Stock Exchange that shows stock prices and activity
- Literature
7
4.8
A powerful government or company that watches people and their private information
- Specialized
6
4.1
An idea that the universe began when a hot, very dense point expanded quickly
- Literature
3
3.2
Large technology companies that dominate the internet, online services, and social media
- Specialized
3
5.2
Large scientific projects that need a lot of money and many people to make big discoveries
How Serious
Surface Forms
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.