big
adjective · adverb · noun · verb
Simple meaning
Of great size.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
bigIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbɪɡ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
adjective
Of great size, large.
sometimes figurative
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
Having large muscles, especially visible ones such as the chest and arm muscles.
of an industry or other fieldor institution(s
Therein; often capitalized; sometimes humorous) Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence.
Specifically, big-breasted.
informal
Well-endowed; with a desired body part notably large.
adverb
In a large amount or to a large extent.
On a grand scale
On a large scale, expansively.
colloquial
Hard; with great force.
In a boasting manner.
In a loud manner.
noun
Someone or something that is large in stature.
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
in the plural
The big leagues, big time.
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
A biological insulation garment; an air-tight, full-body suit intended to prevent the spread of contaminants.
verb
transitive
To inhabit; occupy.
reflexive
To locate oneself.
transitive
To build; erect; fashion.
intransitive
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- A1 · Beginner
- Frequency
- Very Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
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Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: of great size or large
Antonyms
Sense: in a large amount or to a large extent
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.