What does "big" mean?
Someone or something that is large in stature.
Big
/bɪɡ/ adj, adv, noun, phrase, verb, slang
adj, adv, noun, phrase, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Someone or something that is large in stature.
- Grammar: big is listed as adj, adv, noun, phrase, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: large, adult, adult, aggrandized.
- Useful contrasts: barely, diminutive, dinky.
- Usage evidence: When we are small, everything seems so big.
How to use "big"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "big" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "big" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "big" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "big" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "big" is acting as adj, adv, noun, phrase, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "large" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "big", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Someone or something that is large in stature.
"You could throw out everything else, but I had the speed to split double-teams. Like, go at double-teams numerous times in a possession, on consecutive possessions where I'm testing your endurance, your bigs."
- 2 One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley. Northern-England, Scotland, UK, archaic, dialectal, uncountable
- 3 A biological insulation garment; an air-tight, full-body suit intended to prevent the spread of contaminants.
- 4 An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
- 5 The big leagues, big time. in-plural
"In the Appalachian League, where Cal Ripken once played in Bluefield, W.Va., a ballplayer's chances of making it to the bigs are less than one in six."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 An initiated member of a sorority or fraternity who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
"He was there the night of Cristoph's party. All the littles were assigned to their bigs. Ian and Christoph had rushed the same fraternity. When they became upperclassmen, they both ended up on the board."
- 7 The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Verb
- 1 To inhabit; occupy. Northern-England, Scotland, UK, archaic, dialectal, transitive
- 2 To locate oneself. Northern-England, Scotland, UK, archaic, dialectal, reflexive
- 3 To build; erect; fashion. Northern-England, Scotland, UK, archaic, dialectal, transitive
- 4 To dwell; have a dwelling. Northern-England, Scotland, UK, archaic, dialectal, intransitive
Adjective
- 1 Of great size, large.
"Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot."
- 2 Of great size, large.; Fat. informal
"Gosh, she is big!"
- 3 Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce. figuratively, sometimes
"She was big with child."
- 4 Well-endowed; with a desired body part notably large.; Specifically, big-breasted. informal
- 5 Well-endowed; with a desired body part notably large.; Having a large penis. informal
"I'm the shortest man on the team but in the gym shower everyone can see that I'm also the biggest."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 Well-endowed; with a desired body part notably large.; Having large muscles, especially visible ones such as the chest and arm muscles. informal
"I've been lifting weights for a full year now, but I'm finally getting big."
- 7 Adult; (of a child) older. informal
"Kids should get help from big people if they want to use the kitchen."
- 8 Adult; (of a child) older.; Old, mature. Used to imply that someone is too old for something, or acting immaturely. informal, rare, slang
"I don't think so, if you're shouting at people across the playground at your big age."
- 9 Mature, conscientious, principled; generous. informal
"That's very big of you; thank you!"
- 10 Important or significant. informal
"What's so big about that? I do it all the time."
- 11 Popular.
"That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers."
- 12 Populous.
- 13 Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns informal
"You are a big liar. Why are you in such a big hurry?"
- 14 Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence. capitalized, humorous, often, sometimes
"big money"
- 15 Enthusiastic (about). informal
"Neville is big on standing by his principles and he deserves plaudits for acknowledging he got his starting system wrong, reverting to 4-2-3-1 and introducing Kirby in the No 10 role."
Adjective
- 1 in an advanced stage of pregnancy wordnet
- 2 conspicuous in position or importance wordnet
- 3 given or giving freely wordnet
- 4 generous and understanding and tolerant wordnet
- 5 marked by intense physical force wordnet
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 significant wordnet
- 7 above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent wordnet
- 8 loud and firm wordnet
- 9 (of animals) fully developed wordnet
- 10 serious or severe wordnet
- 11 feeling self-importance wordnet
- 12 exhibiting self-importance wordnet
- 13 prodigious wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In a loud manner.
- 2 In a boasting manner.
"He's always talking big, but he never delivers."
- 3 In a large amount or to a large extent.
"He won big betting on the croquet championship."
- 4 In a large amount or to a large extent.; (modifying a preposition) informal
"I've always been big into sport, but I'm especially big into football."
- 5 On a large scale, expansively.
"You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Hard; with great force. colloquial
"He hit him big and the guy just crumpled."
Adverb
- 1 in a boastful manner wordnet
- 2 in a major way wordnet
- 3 on a grand scale wordnet
- 4 extremely well wordnet
Phrase
- 1 Abbreviation of business is a game. abbreviation, alt-of
Antonyms
Example
"When we are small, everything seems so big."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "big"?
Common synonyms include: large, adult, adult, aggrandized, ample, apotheosized.
How do you use "big" in a sentence?
When we are small, everything seems so big.
How do you pronounce "big"?
Pronounced /bɪɡ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Inherited from Northern Middle English big, bigge (“powerful, strong”), possibly from a dialect of Old Norse. Ultimately perhaps a derivative of Proto-Germanic *bugja- (“swollen up, thick”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bu- (“to swell”), in which case big would be related to bogey, bugbear, and bug. Compare dialectal Norwegian bugge (“great man”), Low German Bögge, Boggelmann.
Etymology 2
From Middle English biggen, byggen, from Old Norse byggja, byggva (“to build, dwell in, inhabit”), a secondary form of Old Norse búa (“to dwell”), related to Old English būan (“to dwell”). Cognate with Danish bygge, Swedish bygga.
Etymology 3
From Middle English byge, from Old Norse bygg (“barley, probably Hordeum vulgare, common barley”), from Proto-Germanic *bewwuz (“crop, barley”). Cognate with Old English bēow (“barley”).