great
22 synonyms and 3 antonyms for great, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Very large in size, extent, or degree.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use great
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English grēat, meaning "big, thick, coarse" — related to modern German gross and Dutch groot.
Full origin of great →Frequently asked questions
What does “great” mean?
The word “great” means very large in size, extent, or degree. In plain terms, big, excellent, or important, depending on context — one of the most flexible words in English.
How do you pronounce “great”?
“Great” is pronounced GRAYT (/ˈɡɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “great” in a sentence?
Here is “great” used in a sentence: “They crossed a great expanse of desert before reaching the coast.”
What is another word for “great”?
Words with a similar meaning to “great” include grand, super-, supra-, hyper-, ultra- and uber-.
What is the opposite of “great”?
The opposite of “great” — its antonyms — are tiny, mediocre and ordinary.
What part of speech is “great”?
“Great” is an adjective.
Where does the word “great” come from?
The word “great” comes from Old English. From Old English grēat, meaning "big, thick, coarse" — related to modern German gross and Dutch groot.
Is “great” a common word?
“Great” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between great and big?
'Big' usually describes physical size in a plain, everyday way, as in 'a big house.' 'Great' can mean very large in size, but also large in extent, degree, or importance, and it often carries admiration, as in 'great courage' or 'a great achievement.' 'Great' is broader and frequently more formal or emphatic than 'big.'
Does 'great' mean large or excellent?
It can mean either, which is why context matters. In 'a great distance' or 'great difficulty,' it means very large in size or degree. In 'a great film' or 'a great idea,' it means excellent or admirable. The shared thread is intensity, something notable well beyond the ordinary.
Is 'great' a positive word?
Often, but not always. When it means excellent or admirable, as in 'a great performance,' it is clearly positive. But in its size sense it is neutral and can describe unwelcome things too, as in 'great danger' or 'great sadness.' There, 'great' simply signals a large degree, good or bad.
What is an example of 'great' meaning large?
'A great crowd filled the square' describes a very large number of people. 'They travelled a great distance' stresses considerable length. 'She showed great patience' points to a high degree of a quality. In these examples, 'great' measures size, extent, or intensity rather than judging quality.