1
2
a
: large in number or measure
great multitudes
a great quantity of fish
made a great amount of money
b
: predominant
the great majority
3
: remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness
great bloodshed
caused great damage
Things could be a great deal worse. [=things could be much worse]
4
a
—used as a generalized term of approval
had a great time
It was just great.
You look great.
Great work, everybody!
b
—sometimes used ironically to describe something bad or upsetting
Oh, great! Now we're lost.
5
a
: eminent, distinguished
a great poet
b
: aristocratic, grand
great ladies
c
: chief or preeminent over others
—often used in titles
Lord Great Chamberlain
6
: markedly superior in character or quality
7
a
: remarkably skilled
great at tennis
b
: marked by enthusiasm : keen
a great admirer
great on science fiction
She's a great one for golf. [=she enjoys golf very much]
8
: more remote in a family relationship by a single generation than a specified relative
great-grandfather
9
: long continued
a great while
11
: full of emotion
great with anger
plural great or greats
: an outstandingly superior or skillful person
a tribute to the greats of baseball
Synonyms of great
Examples of great in a Sentence
Adjective
all creatures great and small
The project will require a great amount of time and money.
The building was restored at great expense.
a great quantity of fish
The low cost of these products gives them great appeal.
There is a very great need for reform.
They're in no great hurry to finish.
There is a great demand for his services.
an actress of great charm
Is there any love greater than that between parent and child?
Adverb
We had some problems at first, but now things are going just great.
Keep up the good work. You're doing great!
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Alberta’s original Nordic spa disconnects bathers from technology while connecting them to the great outdoors.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
The audience also erupted each time Leonard scored; the Aztecs great finished with a team-high 18 points.
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Quanta Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
Gena is an amazing soul, one of our greats.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for great
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show current usage.
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Adjective
Sun shrinking and getting hotter; everything bilious, oxygenless, not great for living.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Alberta’s original Nordic spa disconnects bathers from technology while connecting them to the great outdoors.
—Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2025
Adverb
And for traveling aesthetes, great-looking new hotels, restaurants, wineries, and galleries might make the Algarve even more desirable.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
The audience also erupted each time Leonard scored; the Aztecs great finished with a team-high 18 points.
—Kyle Kensing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
But by the end of the 19th century, mathematical greats like Henri Poincaré had recognized the importance of Riemann’s ideas.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 Nov. 2025
Gena is an amazing soul, one of our greats.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for great
Cite this Entry
“Great.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
great
1 of 3 adjective
ˈgrāt 
in South also ˈgre(ə)t
1
: large in size : not small or little
2
: large in number : numerous
a great crowd
3
: long continued
a great while
4
: beyond the average or ordinary
a great weight
in great pain
5
: distinguished, prominent
a great artist
6
: more distant in relationship by one generation
7
: superior in quality or character
8
: remarkable in skill
great at tennis
9
—used as a term of general approval
had a great time
greatly
adverb
greatness
noun
great
2 of 3 adverb
: in a great manner : successfully, well
great
3 of 3 noun
plural great or greats
: an outstandingly superior or skillful person
the greats of baseball
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