big
bihg
Big (adj) means Large in size, amount, or extent. Example: “They moved into a big house with a large garden.”
adj
1
Large in size, amount, or extent.
"They moved into a big house with a large garden."
"That's a big decision to make so quickly."
"A big wave knocked the little boat sideways near the harbour."
2
Important, significant, or influential.
"Landing that client was a big deal for the small firm."
"Winning the cup was a big moment for everyone in our village."
"She got her big break when a director saw her in a play."
3
Grown up or older, especially said of children.
"She's a big girl now and can pour her own cereal."
"You're a big boy now, so you can tie your own laces."
"My big sister walks me to school every morning."
adv
1
To a great extent, or in a large way, used informally.
"He talks big but rarely follows through."
"They're hoping to win big at the village fair this summer."
"If you dream big, you might surprise yourself one day."
How to use big
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLarge in size or importance — one of the most common words in English for scale or significance.
Common pairings
big deal
big picture
think big
big time
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Word forms
- Plural
- bigs
- Third person singular
- bigs
- Past tense
- bigged
- Comparative
- bigger
- Superlative
- biggest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They moved into a _____ house with a large garden.
Etymology
From Northern Middle English big or bigge, "powerful, strong," possibly from a dialect of Old Norse, ultimately traced to a Germanic root meaning "to swell" — the same root behind words like "bug" and "bugbear."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “big” mean?
The word “big” means large in size, amount, or extent. In plain terms, large in size or importance — one of the most common words in English for scale or significance.
How do you pronounce “big”?
“Big” is pronounced bihg (/bɪɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “big” in a sentence?
Here is “big” used in a sentence: “They moved into a big house with a large garden.”
What part of speech is “big”?
Depending on how it is used, “big” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “big” come from?
The word “big” comes from Middle English. From Northern Middle English big or bigge, "powerful, strong," possibly from a dialect of Old Norse, ultimately traced to a Germanic root meaning "to swell" — the same root behind words like "bug" and "bugbear.".
Is “big” a common word?
“Big” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “big” have?
“Big” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: large in size, amount, or extent.
What is the difference between 'big' and 'large'?
Both describe size, but "big" is more informal and can also suggest importance or emotion, like a big decision or a big brother. "Large" is slightly more formal and sticks mainly to physical size or quantity, as in "a large coffee." You would order a large drink, but call something a big deal.
What is the opposite of 'big'?
The usual opposites are "small," "little," and "tiny," with "tiny" being the most extreme. For amounts, "slight" or "minor" can act as opposites, and for importance, "unimportant" or "trivial." Which one fits depends on whether "big" refers to physical size, quantity, or significance in that particular sentence.
Is 'big' formal or informal?
"Big" is neutral to informal, perfectly fine in everyday speech and most writing, but in very formal or technical contexts "large," "substantial," or "significant" often sound more polished. There is nothing wrong with "big"; it simply reads as plainer and more conversational than its more formal alternatives.
What is the difference between 'big' and 'great'?
"Big" refers mainly to size or scale. "Great" can mean large too, but more often means excellent or important; a great film is a good one, not a large one. "A big difference" means a sizeable one, and "a great difference" leans the same way, yet "great" usually adds a note of quality or admiration.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing big in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
In an economy powered to an outsize degree by the spending of the wealthiest Americans, many are starting to wonder if the U.S. stock market is becoming too big to fail.
From
MarketWatch · Jul 11, 2026
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