great ape
noun
plural great apes
: any of several large primates including the orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo that are classified in the same family (Hominidae) as humans
Examples of great ape in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some species, including certain primates such as humans and great apes, have a long, cylindrical appendix.
—
Lilia Goncharova, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
Her reconstructed face was then compared with three other Australopithecus specimens, including one from South Africa and two from Ethiopia, as well as modern great apes.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Unexpected similarities with East African fossils The team then compared it with other great apes and with other Australopithecus specimens.
—Margherita Bassi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Efforts to find a bouba-kiki effect in great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas — animals closely related to humans — have come up empty.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for great ape
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lilia Goncharova, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
Her reconstructed face was then compared with three other Australopithecus specimens, including one from South Africa and two from Ethiopia, as well as modern great apes.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026
Unexpected similarities with East African fossils The team then compared it with other great apes and with other Australopithecus specimens.
—Margherita Bassi, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Efforts to find a bouba-kiki effect in great apes like chimpanzees and gorillas — animals closely related to humans — have come up empty.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for great ape
Cite this Entry
“Great ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20ape. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
