big

¹

[ big ]

adjective

, big·ger, big·gest.

1. large, as in size, height, width, or amount:

   a big house; a big quantity.

   Synonyms: extensive, voluminous, capacious, massive, bulky, immense, huge

   Antonyms: little

2. of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like:

   a big problem.

3. outstanding for a specified quality:

   a big liar; a big success.

4. important, as in influence, standing, or wealth:

   a big man in his field.

   Synonyms: consequential

5. grown-up; mature:

   big enough to know better.

6. elder:

   my big sister.

7. doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance:

   big government.

8. consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry:

   Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.

9. Informal. known or used widely; popular:

   Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.

10. magnanimous; generous; kindly:

    big enough to forgive.

11. boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty:

    a big talker.

12. loud; orotund:

    a big voice.

13. (of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted:

    a big shirt; the big look.

14. (of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
15. filled; brimming:

    eyes big with tears.

16. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. pregnant ¹( def 1 ).
17. Obsolete. very strong; powerful.

adverb

1. Informal. boastfully; pretentiously:

   to act big; to talk big.

2. Informal. with great success; successfully:

   to go over big.

noun

1. the bigs, Sports Slang. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.

big

²

or bigg

[ big ]

verb (used with object)

, British Dialect.

, bigged, big·ging.

1. to build.

big

¹

/ bɪɡ /

verb

1. to build
2. to excavate (earth) into a pile

big

²

/ bɪɡ /

adjective

1. of great or considerable size, height, weight, number, power, or capacity
2. having great significance; important

   a big decision

3. important through having power, influence, wealth, authority, etc

   the big four banks

4. (intensifier usually qualifying something undesirable)

   a big dope

5. informal.
   considerable in extent or intensity (esp in the phrase in a big way )
6. 1. elder

      my big brother

   2. grown-up

      when you're big, you can stay up later

7. 1. generous; magnanimous

      that's very big of you

   2. ( in combination )

      big-hearted

8. often foll by with brimming; full

   my heart is big with sadness

9. extravagant; boastful

   he's full of big talk

10. (of wine) full-bodied, with a strong aroma and flavour
11. too big for one's boots or too big for one's breeches
    conceited; unduly self-confident
12. in an advanced stage of pregnancy (esp in the phrase big with child )
13. big on informal.
    enthusiastic about

    that company is big on research

adverb

1. boastfully; pretentiously (esp in the phrase talk big )
2. in an exceptional way; well

   his talk went over big with the audience

3. on a grand scale (esp in the phrase think big )

Derived Forms

• ˈbiggish, adjective
• ˈbigness, noun

Other Words From

• biggish adjective
• bigly adverb adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of big¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English big(ge), beg(ge); of unknown origin

Origin of big²

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English biggen, beggen, buggen, originally, “to inhabit, reside,” from Old Norse byggja, byggva “to inhabit, settle,” cognate with Old English bū(i)an, German bauen “to build, erect”

Word History and Origins

Origin of big¹

from Old Norse byggja ; related to Old English būian to inhabit

Origin of big²

C13: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect bugge big man

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for:

   Mother is big on family get-togethers.

2. big with child. great ( def 23 ).

More idioms and phrases containing big

• go over big
• great (big) guns
• hit it big
• in a big way
• little frog in a big pond
• make a federal case (big deal)
• talk big
• think big
• too big for one's breeches
• what's the (big) idea
• bigger

Example Sentences

Many modern big cats, like lions and pumas, are born with spots as babies.

From NewsForKids.net

Acevedo peeled off some of the skin and took a big bite.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, that has changed, in a big way.

From Science Magazine

Smith, who grew up in the small Northern California town of Paradise, did a lot of living before he made it big, including a brief marriage that ended in divorce and a failed attempt to become a contemporary Christian musician.

From Los Angeles Times

After receiving rave reviews — and four Olivier Awards, including best musical — it transferred to Broadway for the 2024-25 season, becoming the first big show to reopen in the newly remodeled Palace Theatre.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• colossal
• considerable
• enormous
• fat
• full
• gigantic
• hefty
• huge
• immense
• massive
• sizable
• substantial
• tremendous
• vast