large, as in size, height, width, or amount: a big house; a big quantity.
of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like: a big problem.
outstanding for a specified quality: a big liar; a big success.
important, as in influence, standing, or wealth: a big man in his field.
grown-up; mature: big enough to know better.
elder: my big sister.
doing business or conducted on a large scale; major in size or importance: big government.
consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry: Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.
Informal. known or used widely; popular: Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.
magnanimous; generous; kindly: big enough to forgive.
boastful; pompous; pretentious; haughty: a big talker.
loud; orotund: a big voice.
(of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted: a big shirt; the big look.
(of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
filled; brimming: eyes big with tears.
Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.pregnant.
Obsolete. very strong; powerful.
adverb
Informal. boastfully; pretentiously: to act big; to talk big.
Informal. with great success; successfully: to go over big.
noun
the bigs,SportsSlang. the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.
Idioms for big
be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for: Mother is big on family get-togethers.
big with child. great (def. 23).
Origin of big
1
1250–1300; Middle English big(ge), of unknown origin
What we do know, as the report noted, is “the drop-off will be higher for more populated locations like big cities, with smaller reductions for outdoor and less-populated destinations.”
It was a broad-based drop that saw the big tech rally fade and travel and retail stocks tank on reopening worries.
Move over Nasdaq. This exchange has been killing it over the past month|Bernhard Warner|July 8, 2020|Fortune
A big thing we are leading the charge on is the … language that’s been used in gaming that has been tolerated.
‘It is important for us to take a leadership role’: How esports giant FaZe Clan is working to root out bad behavior in the gaming community|Lara O'Reilly|July 8, 2020|Digiday
In essence, clean rooms have enabled the big tech companies to become channel-specific agencies for their advertisers.
Why data clean rooms are a start, but not enough|LiveRamp|July 8, 2020|Digiday
Now that the first wave of big announcements is winding down, raceAhead will be turning our attention to the nuts and bolts of the work that must happen in the longer term.
The NFL’s apparent new wokeness might be performative, but it still matters|Ellen McGirt|July 7, 2020|Fortune
In that photo, Merabet has a big smile that spreads across his whole face and lights up his eyes.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Big Five banks dubbed too big to fail, are 35 percent bigger than they were when the meltdown was triggered.
Sen. Warren’s Main Street Crusade to Pressure Clinton|Eleanor Clift|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Their three-day scientific outing was paid for by Epstein and was big success.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I really wanted Trenchmouth to succeed and at the time wished we were as big as Green Day.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The big slug happened to hit the suspect in the street, passing through his arm and then striking Police Officer Andrew Dossi.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He did not care to show himself, and he kept one of the big trees between himself and the man all the time.
All Adrift|Oliver Optic
Wait until I get my degree, and the law cases come pouring in on me, with big fees—say, maybe I could give your dad some points!
For the Honor of Randall|Lester Chadwick
He has a big, gray shawl like your own, wrapped around his shoulders.
The Tree of Appomattox|Joseph A. Altsheler
The magazines were kept open, and every gun, big and little, stood ready to be fired at the word of command.
Fighting in Cuban Waters|Edward Stratemeyer
Although it was not yet dark a big camp fire was burning, made bright with pine cones and branches of pine.
The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail|Margaret Vandercook
British Dictionary definitions for big (1 of 2)
big1
/ (bɪɡ) /
adjectivebiggerorbiggest
of great or considerable size, height, weight, number, power, or capacity
having great significance; importanta big decision
important through having power, influence, wealth, authority, etcthe big four banks
(intensifier usually qualifying something undesirable)a big dope
informalconsiderable in extent or intensity (esp in the phrase in a big way)
eldermy big brother
grown-upwhen you're big, you can stay up later
generous; magnanimousthat's very big of you
(in combination)big-hearted
(often foll by with)brimming; fullmy heart is big with sadness
extravagant; boastfulhe's full of big talk
(of wine) full-bodied, with a strong aroma and flavour
too big for one's bootsortoo big for one's breechesconceited; unduly self-confident
in an advanced stage of pregnancy (esp in the phrase big with child)
big oninformalenthusiastic aboutthat company is big on research
adverbinformal
boastfully; pretentiously (esp in the phrase talk big)
in an exceptional way; wellhis talk went over big with the audience
on a grand scale (esp in the phrase think big)
See also big up
Derived forms of big
biggish, adjectivebigness, noun
Word Origin for big
C13: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect bugge big man
British Dictionary definitions for big (2 of 2)
big2
/ (bɪɡ) /
verbbigs, bigging, biggedorbug (bʌɡ) Scot
to build
to excavate (earth) into a pile
Word Origin for big
from Old Norse byggja; related to Old English būian to inhabit