Big — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb noun /ˈbig/

Meaning & Definition of Big

Big (adjective)

  1. large or great in dimensions, bulk, or extent; also, large or great in quantity, number, or amount
  2. operating on a large scale
  3. capital

Big (adverb)

  1. to a large amount or extent
  2. on a large scale
  3. in a loud or declamatory manner; also, in a boasting manner

Big (noun)

  1. an individual or organization of outstanding importance or power; especially, major league —usually used in plural
  2. a big player, a center or forward whose large size and strength are used to control play near the basket

Big (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of a size greater than average of its kind

    "bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite"

    similar: biggish, boxcar, bulky, considerable, goodly, grand, great, handsome, hefty, hulking, husky, large, largish, outsize, oversize, sizable, substantial, tidy, voluminous
    related: astronomical, Brobdingnagian, bumper, Bunyanesque, cavernous, colossal, cosmic, cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, gigantic, gross, hellacious, herculean, heroic, Himalayan, huge, humongous, immense, jumbo, king-size, leviathan, major, mammoth, massive, monolithic, monstrous, monumental, mountainous, pharaonic, prodigious, staggering, stupendous, super, super-duper, supersized, titanic, tremendous, vast, vasty, walloping, whacking, whopping, excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, inordinate, abundant, ample, appreciable, copious, plentiful, fat, thick, capacious, commodious, roomy, spacious
    opposite: bantam, dinky, dwarf, dwarfish, little, puny, shrimpy, small, smallish, undersized
    near: diminutive, half-pint, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little bitty, microminiature, microscopic, mini, miniature, minuscule, minute, pint-size, pocket-size, pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee, petite, slender, slight, slim, thin

  2. having great meaning or lasting effect

    "there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue"

    similar: consequential, earth-shattering, earthshaking, eventful, historic, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, substantial, tectonic, weighty
    related: decisive, fatal, fateful, strategic, earnest, grave, heavy, serious, sincere, distinctive, exceptional, impressive, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, valuable, worthwhile, worthy, distinguished, eminent, great, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, preeminent, prestigious, famous, notorious, renowned, all-important, central, critical, crucial, essential, key, pivotal, seminal, vital
    opposite: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, little, minor, negligible, slight, small, trifling, trivial, unimportant
    near: paltry, petty, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unknown

  3. having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature

    "how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit"

    similar: chivalrous, elevated, gallant, great, greathearted, high, high-minded, lofty, lordly, magnanimous, natural, noble, sublime
    related: ennobled, exalted, glorified, heroic, honorable, valiant, venerable, worthy, knightly, princely, regal, inspiring, moving, numinous, uplifting, august, magnificent, majestic
    opposite: base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low
    near: sordid, squalid, vile, wretched, abominable, contemptible, despicable, detestable, hateful, offensive, repulsive, ugly, vicious, dastardly, dirty, lousy, sorry, little, mean, narrow, small-minded, degrading, discreditable, humiliating, ignominious, coarse, crude, vulgar

  4. having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor)

    "inexperienced wine drinkers should not start with such a big wine"

    similar: concentrated, full, full-bodied, heady, lusty, muscular, plush, potent, rich, robust, strong
    related: heavy, straight, undiluted, unmixed, high-octane, high-test, enriched, fortified
    opposite: delicate, light, mild, thin, thinned, weak, weakened
    near: dilute, diluted, watered-down, watery

  5. coming before all others in importance

    "the big story that year was the election of the president"

    similar: arch, capital, cardinal, central, chief, dominant, first, foremost, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one, numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign, supreme
    related: distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior, high-level, senior, top, important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant, incomparable, matchless, unequaled, unparalleled, unsurpassed, celebrated, famed, famous, renowned
    opposite: last, least
    near: inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant, collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

  6. enjoying widespread favor or approval

    "jackets with very wide lapels were big that year"

    similar: crowd-pleasing, du jour, faddish, faddy, fashionable, favorite, happening, hot, in, large, modish, pop, popular, popularized, red-hot, vogue, voguish
    related: semipopular, preferred, selected, desirable, liked, wanted, celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, well-known, fabled, fabulous, legendary, leading, notable, outstanding, remarkable, important, significant
    opposite: out, unfashionable, unpopular
    near: washed-up, despised, detested, disliked, hated, rejected, insignificant, unimportant, indistinguished, unexceptional, anonymous, nameless, obscure, unknown, inconspicuous

  7. containing unborn young within the body

    "a mare big with a foal"

    similar: caught, enceinte, expectant, expecting, gone, gravid, heavy, pregnant, quick (archaic), with child, with young
    related: parturient, prenatal, childbearing, gestational, brooding, conceiving, impregnated
    opposite: nonpregnant
    near: barren, infertile, aborting, miscarrying, delivered

Big (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one of high position or importance within a group

    "with that new promotion he's now one of the bigs in the company"

    similar: big boy, big cheese, big gun, big leaguer, big shot, big wheel, big-timer, bigfoot, biggie, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck, honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck, nabob, nawab, nibs, nob (chiefly British), pooh-bah, wheel
    related: baron, czar, king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, princess, queen, tycoon, VIP
    opposite: lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch
    near: inferior, subordinate, underling, mediocrity, obscurity

  2. 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"

    similar: big league(s), big time, major league
    related: establishment, old guard

Related Entry: Big boy (noun)

Big boy is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big boy, not for big.

  1. one of high position or importance within a group

    "when she became the network's White House correspondent, she knew that she was now playing with the big boys"

    similar: big, big cheese, big gun, big leaguer, big shot, big wheel, big-timer, bigfoot, biggie, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck, honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck, nabob, nawab, nibs, nob (chiefly British), pooh-bah, wheel
    related: baron, czar, king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, princess, queen, tycoon, VIP
    opposite: lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch
    near: inferior, subordinate, underling, mediocrity, obscurity

Related Entry: Big bucks (plural noun)

Big bucks is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big bucks, not for big.

  1. a very large amount of money

    "I hear she's been offered big bucks to take that job"

    similar: bomb (British), boodle, bundle, earth, fortune, king's ransom, megabucks, mint, packet (chiefly British), pile, wad
    related: heap, pot, bonanza, mine, treasure trove, assets, capital, means, property, riches, wealth, wherewithal, bread (slang), cash, chips, currency, dough, gold, jack (slang), legal tender, lucre, pelf, tender, wampum
    opposite: mite, peanuts, pittance, song
    near: petty cash, pin money, pocket money, spending money

Related Entry: Big cheese (noun)

Big cheese is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big cheese, not for big.

  1. one of high position or importance within a group

    "thinks he's a big cheese just because he's got a business card"

    similar: big, big boy, big gun, big leaguer, big shot, big wheel, big-timer, bigfoot, biggie, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck, honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck, nabob, nawab, nibs, nob (chiefly British), pooh-bah, wheel
    related: baron, czar, king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, princess, queen, tycoon, VIP
    opposite: lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch
    near: inferior, subordinate, underling, mediocrity, obscurity

Related Entry: Big gun (noun)

Big gun is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big gun, not for big.

  1. one of high position or importance within a group

    "for a high-profile case like this, the law firm uses only its big guns"

    similar: big, big boy, big cheese, big leaguer, big shot, big wheel, big-timer, bigfoot, biggie, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck, honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck, nabob, nawab, nibs, nob (chiefly British), pooh-bah, wheel
    related: baron, czar, king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, princess, queen, tycoon, VIP
    opposite: lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch
    near: inferior, subordinate, underling, mediocrity, obscurity

Related Entry: Big house (noun)

Big house is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big house, not for big.

  1. a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody

    "told harrowing stories of his years spent in the big house"

    similar: bastille, bridewell, brig, calaboose, can, clink (slang), cooler, coop, guardroom, hock, hold, hoosegow, jail, jailhouse, joint (slang), jug, lockup, nick (British slang), pen, penitentiary, pokey (slang), prison, quod (British slang), slam, slammer, stir (slang), stockade, tolbooth (Scottish)
    related: bull pen, cage, cell, hole, tank, block, ward, glasshouse (British), guardhouse, hulk(s), concentration camp, gulag, labor camp, prison camp, stalag, work camp, dungeon, keep, oubliette, reformatory, reform school, training school
    near: outside

Related Entry: Big league (noun)

Big league is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big league, not for big.

  1. the highest level of a field of endeavor

    "Broadway is the big leagues, and for big bucks theatergoers expect professionalism"

    similar: big time, big(s), major league
    related: establishment, old guard

Related Entry: Big leaguer (noun)

Big leaguer is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big leaguer, not for big.

  1. one of high position or importance within a group

    "the once-tiny ad agency is now a big leaguer that attracts clients on the A-list"

    similar: big, big boy, big cheese, big gun, big shot, big wheel, big-timer, bigfoot, biggie, bigwig, fat cat, heavy, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high-muck-a-muck, honcho, kahuna, kingfish, kingpin, major leaguer, muckety-muck, nabob, nawab, nibs, nob (chiefly British), pooh-bah, wheel
    related: baron, czar, king, lion, magnate, mogul, prince, princess, queen, tycoon, VIP
    opposite: lightweight, nobody, nonentity, nothing, twerp, whippersnapper, zero, zilch
    near: inferior, subordinate, underling, mediocrity, obscurity

Related Entry: Big-name (adjective)

Big-name is a different word from Big. The synonyms below are for big-name, not for big.

  1. widely known

    "several big-name writers gave readings at the book festival"

    similar: celebrated, famed, famous, noted, notorious, prominent, renowned, star, visible, well-known
    related: fabled, fabulous, legendary, infamous, distinguished, eminent, exceptional, great, illustrious, leading, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, preeminent, prestigious, remarkable, supereminent, superior, important, significant, acknowledged, recognized, respected, favorite, popular, preferred, estimable, honorable, reputable, respectable, formidable, redoubtable
    opposite: anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated, unfamous, unknown, unsung
    near: insignificant, unimportant, inconspicuous, undistinguished, unexceptional, unpopular

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Big

The most common words with a similar meaning to Big:

Archaic: quick
Chiefly British: nob
biggish, boxcar, bulky, considerable, goodly, grand, great, handsome, hefty, hulking, husky, large, largish, outsize, oversize, sizable, substantial, tidy, voluminous, consequential, earth-shattering, earthshaking, eventful, historic, important, major, material, meaningful, momentous, monumental, much, significant, tectonic, weighty, chivalrous, elevated, gallant, greathearted, high, high-minded

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Big

Words with the opposite meaning of Big:

bantam, dinky, dwarf, dwarfish, little, puny, shrimpy, small, smallish, undersized, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant, base, debased, degenerate, degraded, ignoble, low, delicate, light, mild, thin, thinned

Related Words for Big

astronomical, Brobdingnagian, bumper, Bunyanesque, cavernous, colossal, cosmic, cyclopean, elephantine, enormous, galactic, gargantuan, gigantic, gross, hellacious, herculean, heroic, Himalayan, huge, humongous, immense, jumbo, king-size, leviathan, mammoth, massive, monolithic, monstrous, mountainous, pharaonic

Near Antonyms of Big

diminutive, half-pint, infinitesimal, Lilliputian, little bitty, microminiature, microscopic, mini, miniature, minuscule, minute, pint-size, pocket-size, pygmy, teensy, teensy-weensy, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, wee, petite, slender, slim, paltry, petty, worthless, anonymous, nameless, obscure, uncelebrated

Word Forms of Big

Inflections: bigger, biggest

Derived words: bigly (adverb), bigness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Big

Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect bugge important man

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Big

Words & Phrases Containing Big

big air, big bad, big band, big bang, big bang theory, Big Bear, big beat

Frequently Asked Questions about Big

What does "Big" mean?

"Big" means large or great in dimensions, bulk, or extent; also, large or great in quantity, number, or amount. As an an adjective, an adverb and a noun, it is defined as: large or great in dimensions, bulk, or extent; also, large or great in quantity, number, or amount. It has 9 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Big"?

Other words for "Big" include biggish, boxcar, bulky, considerable, goodly, grand, great and handsome. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Big" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Big"?

There are 305 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Big". Common alternatives include biggish, boxcar, bulky, considerable, goodly, grand, great, handsome, hefty and hulking.

What is the opposite of "Big"?

Antonyms of "Big" include bantam, dinky, dwarf, dwarfish, little, puny, shrimpy and small. Near antonyms include diminutive, half-pint, infinitesimal and Lilliputian.

How do you use "Big" in a sentence?

Examples of "Big" in a sentence: "bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite"; "there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue"; "how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit".

Is "Big" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Big" can be used as an adjective, an adverb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Big" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Big" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Big"?

"Big" is pronounced /ˈbig/.