grand
GRAND
Grand (adj) means Impressively large, important, or magnificent. Example: “Visitors were amazed by the grand entrance of the old palace.”
adj
1
Impressively large, important, or magnificent.
"Visitors were amazed by the grand entrance of the old palace."
"The hotel had a grand marble staircase in the lobby."
"It was a grand old building that dominated the town square."
2
Excellent or wonderful (informal, especially in Irish and British English).
"We had a grand time at the seaside, despite the rain."
"It's grand to see you looking so well after your illness."
""How was the trip?" "Ah, it was grand.""
noun
1
Informal term for a thousand units of currency, such as dollars or pounds.
"She won a couple of grand in the raffle last night."
"Fixing the roof is going to cost us at least two grand."
"The used car cost him five grand."
2
Short for grand piano.
"The pianist lifted the lid of the grand and began to play."
"They had to hire a crane to move the grand into the flat."
"A polished black grand sat in the corner of the concert hall."
How to use grand
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBig and impressive — or, informally, just "fine" or "a thousand dollars/pounds" depending on context.
When to use it
Using "grand" to mean "fine" or "okay" is casual and especially common in Irish English.
Common pairings
a grand entrance
five grand
grand piano
grand total
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Word forms
- Plural
- grands
- Comparative
- grander, more grand
- Superlative
- grandest, most grand
Fill the gap
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Visitors were amazed by the _____ entrance of the old palace.
Etymology
From Old French grant/grand, from Latin grandis, meaning "full-grown" or "great."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for grand
See all rhymes for grand →Frequently asked questions
What does “grand” mean?
The word “grand” means impressively large, important, or magnificent. In plain terms, big and impressive — or, informally, just "fine" or "a thousand dollars/pounds" depending on context.
How do you pronounce “grand”?
“Grand” is pronounced GRAND (/ˈɡɹænd/ in IPA).
How do you use “grand” in a sentence?
Here is “grand” used in a sentence: “The hotel had a grand marble staircase in the lobby.”
What is another word for “grand”?
Words with a similar meaning to “grand” include great, super-, supra-, hyper-, ultra- and uber-.
What part of speech is “grand”?
Depending on how it is used, “grand” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “grand” come from?
The word “grand” comes from Latin. From Old French grant/grand, from Latin grandis, meaning "full-grown" or "great.".
Is “grand” a common word?
“Grand” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “grand” have?
“Grand” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: impressively large, important, or magnificent.
What is the difference between grand and grandiose?
Grand is a compliment: it describes something genuinely large, splendid, or impressive. Grandiose is usually a criticism, suggesting something is showy or overblown, trying to seem more impressive than it deserves. A grand plan is admirable; a grandiose one is pretentious. The two look alike but pull in opposite directions.
What is an example of something grand?
A grand example might be a sweeping marble staircase, a stately country house, or a lavish state banquet. The word suits anything striking in scale or importance — a grand entrance, a grand piano, a grand cathedral. Each conveys a sense of magnificence that goes well beyond the ordinary.
Does 'grand' have other meanings?
Yes. Informally, 'a grand' means a thousand pounds or dollars, as in 'it cost five grand'. 'Grand' also appears in fixed phrases like 'grand total', meaning the complete final sum, and 'grand piano'. And it forms family words such as grandmother. Context makes the intended sense clear.
Is grand a positive word?
Generally yes. Describing something as grand usually expresses admiration for its size, importance, or splendour. It can occasionally carry a hint of irony, as in 'grand ideas' for schemes that are too ambitious, but on its own the word is warm and complimentary, unlike its cousin 'grandiose'.
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