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
Sofia Williams,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Wild horse populations can increase as much as 20% a year, a rate some experts say is greater than the capacity to remove horses.
—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 June 2026
This matching option looks great unbuttoned and billowy, with one hem tucked in, or tied at the waist for a cropped look.
—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
To adore the literary greats but reject any modicum of pretension?
—
Adrienne Lafrance,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for great
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Newsom’s signature on the bill will allow courts to prevent the diversion of violent criminals with greater ease.
—
Sofia Williams,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
Wild horse populations can increase as much as 20% a year, a rate some experts say is greater than the capacity to remove horses.
—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
Adverb
Any greens work great here, but my family loves the crunchiness of iceberg and romaine here.
—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 June 2026
This matching option looks great unbuttoned and billowy, with one hem tucked in, or tied at the waist for a cropped look.
—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
19 June 2026
Noun
The greats have run there from Man o’ War to Seabiscuit to the greatest of them all, Secretariat.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2026
To adore the literary greats but reject any modicum of pretension?
—
Adrienne Lafrance,
The Atlantic,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for great
Cite this Entry
“Great.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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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