adj
Very common
greater
GRAY-tuh
Greater (adj) means Larger in size, amount, or importance than something else being compared. Example: “The risk of flooding is greater in spring than in summer.”
adj
1
Larger in size, amount, or importance than something else being compared.
"The risk of flooding is greater in spring than in summer."
"The new phone has greater storage capacity than the old model."
"She showed greater determination than any other competitor."
2
Used before a place name to mean the wider metropolitan area surrounding a city.
"Many people who work in the city live in Greater Manchester."
"The bus network covers Greater Glasgow and several nearby towns."
"Greater London includes many boroughs outside the historic city centre."
How to use greater
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe comparative form of "great" — more, bigger, or more important than something else, or referring to the wider area around a city.
Common pairings
greater than
Greater London
greater risk
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like greater.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The risk of flooding is _____ in spring than in summer.
Etymology
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Related words
Rhymes for greater
See all rhymes for greater →Frequently asked questions
What does “greater” mean?
The word “greater” means larger in size, amount, or importance than something else being compared. In plain terms, the comparative form of "great" — more, bigger, or more important than something else, or referring to the wider area around a city.
How do you pronounce “greater”?
“Greater” is pronounced GRAY-tuh (/ˈɡɹeɪtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “greater” in a sentence?
Here is “greater” used in a sentence: “The new phone has greater storage capacity than the old model.”
What part of speech is “greater”?
“Greater” is an adjective.
Is “greater” a common word?
“Greater” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “greater” have?
“Greater” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: larger in size, amount, or importance than something else being compared.
What is the difference between greater and larger?
'Larger' almost always refers to physical size — a larger house or box. 'Greater' is broader and often abstract, covering amount, degree, or importance, as in 'greater responsibility' or 'greater risk.' You can say a greater number or a greater good, where 'larger' would sound wrong. Greater ranks or matters more, not just measures bigger.
What does 'greater than' mean in math?
In mathematics, 'greater than' means one value is larger than another, written with the symbol >. For example, 5 > 3 reads 'five is greater than three.' The wide, open end of the symbol always points to the larger number. Its counterpart, 'less than' (<), shows the opposite relationship.
What is the opposite of greater?
The usual opposites are 'lesser' and 'smaller,' along with 'fewer' when counting things. 'Lesser' fits abstract comparisons like importance or degree — 'the lesser of two evils' — while 'smaller' suits size. In math, the opposite relationship is 'less than,' written with the < symbol.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include greater:
