name
Uncommon
Goliath
guh-LEYE-uhth
Goliath (name) means In the Bible, a giant warrior defeated in single combat by the young David. Example: “The story of David and Goliath is often used to describe an underdog beating a far bigger opponent.”
name
1
In the Bible, a giant warrior defeated in single combat by the young David.
"The story of David and Goliath is often used to describe an underdog beating a far bigger opponent."
noun
1
Any person or thing that is unusually huge or powerful, especially when facing a much smaller opponent.
"The small startup managed to outmanoeuvre the industry goliath."
"At two metres tall, he was a goliath on the basketball court."
How to use Goliath
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA huge or dominant figure, from the biblical giant's name — often paired with "David" to mean an underdog story.
Common pairings
David and Goliath
an industry goliath
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Word forms
- Plural
- Goliaths
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The story of David and _____ is often used to describe an underdog beating a far bigger opponent.
Etymology
From the Hebrew name Golyat, borne by the biblical giant defeated by David.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Goliath” mean?
The word “Goliath” means in the Bible, a giant warrior defeated in single combat by the young David. In plain terms, a huge or dominant figure, from the biblical giant's name — often paired with "David" to mean an underdog story.
How do you pronounce “Goliath”?
“Goliath” is pronounced guh-LEYE-uhth (/ɡəˈlaɪəθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Goliath” in a sentence?
Here is “Goliath” used in a sentence: “The story of David and Goliath is often used to describe an underdog beating a far bigger opponent.”
What part of speech is “Goliath”?
Depending on how it is used, “Goliath” can be a name and a noun.
Where does the word “Goliath” come from?
The word “Goliath” comes from Hebrew. From the Hebrew name Golyat, borne by the biblical giant defeated by David.
Is “Goliath” a common word?
“Goliath” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Goliath” have?
“Goliath” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in the Bible, a giant warrior defeated in single combat by the young David.
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