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great

great

84 5.9
A person famous for important achievements in a field
  • noun
  • /ɡreɪt/
: grande
  • Albert Einstein is considered one of the great scientists in history for his contributions to physics.
  • such greats
  • Alexander the Great
  • Catherine the Great

Examples

  • Because Ted Williams, whom I believe is one of the all-time greats, is also a world-class angler.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Pretty soon he'll be joining the greats like Cagney and Tracy.

  • Now, this is a great man, Jimmy Stewart.

  • But he, I think, was one of the great thinkers of the age.

  • David Lynch, You know, the great film maker David Lynch?

  • A brother was one of the greats.

  • I've lived long enough to see some of the greats play.

  • Caesarea was built by Herod the Great in honor of Caesarea Augustus, ruler of the Roman Empire.

    Academic text (2005)
  • I know you haven't heard of him, but trust me, Vyvyan Ayrs is one of the musical greats, Sixsmith.

  • In sports, Michael Jordan is regarded as one of the greats of basketball, inspiring many players.

Synonyms

best
vsgreat
492 1.0

A person who is better than all others in a group

is honored for achievements rather than ranking highest
legend
vsgreat
323 3.5

A very famous person admired for great achievements

is honored and recognized for achievements beyond fame
somebody
vsgreat
100 2.5

An important person who is well known in a field

is honored for achievements rather than general importance
famous person
vsgreat
72 1.0

A person many people know because of their achievements

is formally honored and distinguished for achievements beyond popularity
laureate
vsgreat
39 7.6

A person who receives a special honor for great achievements, often in arts, literature or science

is honored broadly for achievements beyond formal prizes
eminence
vsgreat
  • Formal
32 7.4

A very respected person in a field who is often an expert

is honored for achievements rather than holding rank
giant
vsgreat
26 4.0

A very important and influential person in a field

is honored and distinguished for specific achievements
notable
vsgreat
5 4.1

A person who is well known and admired

is formally honored and publicly recognized for achievements
legend in one's own lifetime
vsgreat
  • Informal
7.2

A person who is very famous and admired while still alive

is honored across a field rather than only admired during life

Antonyms

681 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

520 2.3

Not known or named, often with no name given

Idioms

429 1.8

A large amount or a big saving when buying something

175 1.8

Shows that something is done a lot

Try very hard to make something happen

To a large degree

6 5.2

Make a lot of effort and be careful about small details

4 3.6

Say this when two people have the same smart idea, as a joke

the great unwashed
  • Offensive
3 8.8

Ordinary people who richer, more powerful people often talk about in a rude way

great on paper
  • Informal
2 6.4

Looks very good on paper but does not work in real life

1 9.9

A short phrase showing surprise or disbelief

1 9.9

A short shout that shows surprise or strong excitement

1 7.5

People in society who are important, respected, and have power

With much hurry and disorder

1 9.9

A woman who is near the time to have a baby

Small regular efforts lead to big results over time

A joking idea that deleted digital files are gone forever

Compounds

561 1.6

A large amount of something, for example patience or money

great job
  • Informal
347 1.0

To praise someone for doing a task well

A man who is the father of your grandparent

A severe world economic crisis in the 1930s that caused mass unemployment

83 1.1

An island in northwest Europe that includes England, Scotland, and Wales often used to mean the United Kingdom

69 1.8

A good offer that saves you money when buying

57 1.4

A group of people who work well together to succeed

A woman who is the mother of your grandparent

46 2.1

A group of five large fresh water lakes between the United States and Canada

37 3.0

A sister of one of your grandparents

35 4.2

A war in Europe from 1914 to 1918 between the Allies and Central Powers

30 2.3

A brother of one of your grandparents

26 2.8

A high level of attention and caution that helps avoid damage or mistakes

A long time spent doing something

22 3.5

A very long ancient wall across northern China built to stop invaders

19 5.1

A very large room in a castle or large house where people eat and have large gatherings

17 4.9

A country that can affect events around the world

A child of your grandson or granddaughter

A person who is the parent of your grandparent

A very large sea fish with a white belly that sometimes attacks people

14 4.4

A very large ancient Egyptian tomb for Pharaoh Khufu at Giza with a square base and four triangle-shaped sides

14 2.6

A very large dog with short smooth fur that is strong and very tall

A son of your grandson or granddaughter

A very large coral reef system off the northeast coast of Australia

A very long old wall in northern China built to stop attacks

9 4.2

A lot of careful effort to do something well

7 9.9

A country, group or company that people insult by calling it the main enemy

A place people imagine where they go after they die

A daughter of your grandchild

6 3.1

A large flat area of grassland in central North America from Canada to Texas

5 4.0

Much importance that affects a decision or result

5 3.4

A large animal like a gorilla or orangutan with no tail and closely related to humans

A big public show and excitement around an event

A large shallow lake in northwestern Utah with very salty water

4 8.4

A person expected to bring success where others failed

4 3.2

A son of your niece or nephew

A mountain range on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee with mist and many plants and animals

great seal
  • Formal
3 7.5

An official stamp used by a government to show that a document is genuine

3 9.1

A figure in modern spiritual beliefs who represents Earth as a caring mother

A part of Broadway in New York City with bright lights and many theaters

2 4.7

A daughter of your niece or nephew

2 6.8

A high mountain line that divides rivers flowing to the Pacific from those flowing to the Atlantic and Arctic oceans

Great Rift Valley
  • Specialized
2 5.3

A long low area from the Jordan River through eastern Africa to Mozambique formed by the moving earth's crust

2 4.0

A large owl with ear tufts and brown and white feathers found in North America

A very large ancient Egyptian tomb in Giza built for the king Khufu about 2600 BC

1 4.6

A large bird with blue-grey feathers, long legs and a long neck that lives near water

Great Mother
  • Literature
1 9.9

An ancient Phrygian goddess worshipped for nature and fertility, often shown with lions

A national park in the southeastern United States covering Tennessee and North Carolina with high mountains and many wild animals

A man who rules England, Scotland, and Wales as their king

great circle
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A circle on a globe made when a flat surface passes through the center

1 5.9

A very strong, excited feeling that makes people act

The official name of the country in northwest Europe made of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

A nickname for the U.S. state of Michigan that borders the Great Lakes

1 3.7

A large group of stars in the northern sky that includes the Big Dipper

1 5.6

A government system in China that blocks websites and controls what people see online

An official seal used to show a United States government document is real

A large white dog with thick fur that guards sheep from wild animals

great year
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very long period of about 25,800 years for Earth's axis to slowly turn once

1 9.9

A period from 1378 to 1417 when rival popes in Rome and Avignon split the Catholic Church

Great Attractor
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very large group of galaxies that pulls other galaxies with strong gravity

A British TV show where amateur bakers compete in weekly baking challenges

A mass political movement led by Mao in China from 1966 to 1976 that attacks intellectuals and causes widespread violence

A large lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada drained by the Mackenzie River

1 5.8

A very large grey owl with a round face that lives in northern forests

A long mountain range along Australia's east coast from Queensland to Victoria

A large fast tropical fish with sharp teeth that hunts other fish

1 9.9

A large uprising in England in 1381 against unfair taxes and laws

An ancient Egyptian king known for leading armies and building large temples

Great Charter
  • Formal
1 8.1

A royal document giving political rights to English barons in 1215

great synergy
  • Jargon
1 5.1

Very good teamwork where people work together to get better results

1 4.0

The largest toe on the inner side of the foot

1 9.9

An imaginary creature that eats spaceships or stars near Mars

A king who ruled Britain and Ireland from 1727 to 1760 and also ruled Hanover

How Famous

legend
323 3.5
great
84 5.9
public figure
50 3.5
notable
5 4.1
local
242 1.2

Surface Forms

great singular
greats plural

Etymology

Great as a noun comes from the adjective great meaning 'very important', so a 'great' is a person people see as 'outstanding' or very famous.