large

[ lahrj ]

adjective

, larg·er, larg·est.

1. of more than average size, quantity, degree, etc.; exceeding that which is common to a kind or class; big; great:

   a large house; a large number; in large measure; to a large extent.

   Synonyms: massive, colossal, gigantic, immense, enormous, huge, vast

   Antonyms: small

2. on a great scale:

   a large producer of kitchen equipment.

3. of great scope or range; extensive; broad.
4. grand or pompous:

   a man given to large, bombastic talk.

5. (of a map, model, etc.) representing the features of the original with features of its own that are relatively large so that great detail may be shown.
6. famous; successful; important:

   He's very large in financial circles.

7. Obsolete. generous; bountiful; lavish.
8. Obsolete.
   1. unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper.
   2. unrestrained in behavior or manner; uninhibited.
9. Nautical. free ( def 33 ).

noun

1. Music. the longest note in mensural notation.
2. Obsolete. generosity; bounty.

adverb

1. Nautical. with the wind free or abaft the beam so that all sails draw fully.

large

/ lɑːdʒ /

adjective

1. having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big
2. of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive

   a large effect

3. having or showing great breadth of understanding

   a large heart

4. nautical (of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction
5. rare.
   overblown; pretentious
6. generous
7. obsolete.
   (of manners and speech) gross; rude

noun

1. at large
   1. (esp of a dangerous criminal or wild animal) free; not confined
   2. roaming freely, as in a foreign country
   3. as a whole; in general
   4. in full detail; exhaustively
   5. See ambassador
2. in large or in the large
   as a totality or on a broad scale

adverb

1. nautical with the wind blowing from a favourable direction
2. by and large
   1. sentence modifier generally; as a rule

      by and large, the man is the breadwinner

   2. nautical towards and away from the wind
3. loom large
   to be very prominent or important

Derived Forms

• ˈlargeness, noun

Other Words From

• large·ness noun
• o·ver·large adjective
• ul·tra·large adjective
• un·large adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of large¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin larga, feminine of largus “ample, generous”

Word History and Origins

Origin of large¹

C12 (originally: generous): via Old French from Latin largus ample, abundant

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at large,
   1. free from restraint or confinement; at liberty:

      The murderer is still at large.

   2. to a considerable extent; at length:

      to treat a subject at large.

   3. as a whole; in general:

      the country at large.

   4. Also at-large. representing the whole of a state, district, or body rather than one division or part of it:

      a delegate at large.

   5. Also at-large. having a general, as opposed to a specific, role in an organization or project:

      She’s the magazine’s editor-at-large.

2. in large, on a large scale; from a broad point of view: Also in the large.

   a problem seen in large.

More idioms and phrases containing large

see at large ; big (large) as life ; by and large ; cog in the (a large) wheel ; in some (large) measure ; loom large ; writ large .

Example Sentences

In this state, these cells that line the tiny arteries in the kidney begin to grow too large.

From Science Daily

By ensuring sufficient iron availability to the large intestine, it may be possible to reduce dysbiosis and the gastrointestinal issues that often accompany Parkinson's disease treatment.

From Science Daily

“We don’t agree that migrants be treated as criminals,” Sheinbaum told reporters Thursday at her regular morning news conference, in her strongest condemnation yet of Trump’s vow to implement the largest deportations in U.S. history.

From Los Angeles Times

Adventists avoid cigarettes and alcohol and usually keep a vegetarian diet, and several large, long-term health studies had found members of this community lived between 4 and 7 years longer than other Californians.

From Science Magazine

"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."

From BBC

Related Words

• broad
• considerable
• enormous
• extensive
• full
• generous
• giant
• gigantic
• grand
• great
• hefty
• huge
• immense
• massive
• populous
• sizable
• spacious
• substantial
• vast
• wide

When To Use

What are other ways to say large?

Something that is large is of more than average size, quantity, or degree. How does large compare to great and big? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.