big 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbig How to pronounce big (audio)
Definition of bignext
1
as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue

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2
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite

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3
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit

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4
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) inexperienced wine drinkers should not start with such a big wine

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5
as in main
coming before all others in importance the big story that year was the election of the president

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6
as in fashionable
enjoying widespread favor or approval jackets with very wide lapels were big that year

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7
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body a mare big with a foal

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big

2 of 2

noun

1
as in heavy
one of high position or importance within a group with that new promotion he's now one of the bigs in the company

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2
as in major league
usually bigs plural the highest level of a field of endeavor a candidate who is running for president is playing in the bigs and cannot afford to make major mistakes

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For
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a big deal
an important deal
a huge deal
a major deal
an enormous deal
a big city
a huge city
a major city
a massive city
a giant city
a sizable city
a big game
an important game
a huge game
a monumental game
a critical game
a big problem
a major problem
a serious problem
a huge problem
a tremendous problem
a humongous problem
a big mistake
a complete mistake
a total mistake
a huge mistake
a major mistake
a large mistake

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of big
Adjective
Though unrelated, video of Wilde being served custody papers during a CinemaCon presentation in Las Vegas only made the buzz around this film that much bigger. —Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025 The biggest news is that Weebit has licensed its memory technology to onsemi. —Thomas Coughlin, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Noun
Shop the top 50 picks below and save big now before the sales end this week. —Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 4 Dec. 2024 But there are also several bigs who will be unrestricted free agents, including Brionna Jones, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Brittney Griner, Nneka Ogwumike and Tina Charles who could start immediately. —Ben Pickman, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for big 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big
  1. major
  2. large
  3. great
  4. rich
  5. main
  6. fashionable
  7. pregnant
  8. heavy
Adjective
  • The bill is currently only meant to cover hotels, restaurants and private sites, but could eventually extend to goods and services, including reviews left on major international sites like Amazon.
    — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Key Background There are three major fires still burning in the vicinity of Los Angeles, including the Palisades Fire, which has burned more than 23,000 acres, and the Eaton Fire, which has burned more than 14,000.
    — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Definition of major
Adjective
  • Hamas has come under overwhelming pressure from Israel’s invasion of Gaza’s largest cities and towns and seizure of the border between Gaza and Egypt.
    — Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The largest contract in the history of soccer was Lionel Messi’s four-year deal with Barcelona worth as much as $673 million with incentives and bonuses—Messi did not earn the full amount.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of large
Adjective
  • Finance chief Amy Hood said in October that revenue growth from Microsoft’s Azure cloud will speed up in the first half of this year because of greater AI infrastructure capacity.
    — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
  • The multiple tote bags Elsbeth drags around are a great example of this.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of great
Adjective
  • Chia seeds, like other seeds and nuts, are rich in oils that, when exposed to oxygen, can easily spoil and take on an unpleasant rancid flavor.
    — Annie Peterson, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2025
  • The whisky's texture is rich, creamy, and mouth-coating.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of rich
Adjective
  • Drivers should try to travel during the day and avoid traveling alone, inform others of your schedule, and stick to main roads and avoid shortcuts.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Jan. 2025
  • The concert at the country’s main public square settled a pending debt with his Mexican fans, after postponing a presentation originally scheduled for September due to a domestic accident that resulted in five fractured ribs and forced him to suspend a series of shows in Mexico and Colombia.
    — Natalia Cano, Billboard, 19 Jan. 2025
Definition of main
Adjective
  • In the years since, the former editor and model has quietly put her own fashionable stamp on the baroque pile in the Peak District—the inspiration for Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice and a fixture on the moodboards of designers ranging from John Galliano to Alessandro Michele.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2025
  • The glasses not only provide exceptional sound clarity but also eliminate the traditional stigma associated with hearing aids by seamlessly integrating advanced audio technology into a sleek, fashionable eyewear design.
    — Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Definition of fashionable
Adjective
  • Our practice recently started to provide care to a newly pregnant 13-year-old.
    — Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The authors even suggested that pregnant people should reduce their fluoride intake.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of pregnant
Noun
  • Not without consequence, of course, and not just from New York heavies—in his years of flouting the conventions of etiquette in the bush, around animals, whether while making images or just out wandering, Peter was not entirely unscathed.
    — Chris Wallace, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024
  • But at six-foot-two, with the big, square features and the theatrical presence of a human monolith, Chen looks as well as buzzes like the authority figures and heavies that are a star basso’s ticket to the really big time.
    — airmail.news, airmail.news, 7 Dec. 2024
Definition of heavy

Phrases Containing big

Thesaurus Entries Near big

bifurcations

big

bigamies

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Cite this Entry

“Big.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on big

Nglish: Translation of big for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of big for Arabic Speakers

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