great

1 of 3

adjective

ˈgrāt 

Southern also ˈgre(ə)t

1

a

: notably large in size : huge

all creatures great and small

a great expanse of wilderness

b

: of a kind characterized by relative largeness

—used in plant and animal names

the great horned owl

c

: elaborate, ample

great detail

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

especially : noble

great of soul

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

10

: principal, main

a reception in the great hall

11

: full of emotion

great with anger

great

2 of 3

adverb

: in a great manner : well

Things are going great.

great

3 of 3

noun

plural great or greats

: an outstandingly superior or skillful person

a tribute to the greats of baseball

Synonyms of great

Adjective

• excellent
• wonderful
• terrific
• awesome
• fantastic
• superb
• lovely
• beautiful
• fabulous
• marvelous
• stellar
• prime
• fine

Adverb

• nicely
• well
• deliciously
• delightfully
• finely
• enjoyably
• wonderfully

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

Adjective

In the rotation, the Angels are seeking greater stability beyond Yusei Kikuchi and José Soriano. —Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2025

While the Bears are truly a serious threat and put up a great fight against Green Bay, the Packers now control their own destiny. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2025

Adverb

The Swedish pop great created the song with her longtime collaborator, producer Klas Åhlund. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Dec. 2025

She's did great better than some adults. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025

Noun

An unbelievable streak amongst NBA greats came to an end on Thursday evening, with LeBron James failing to score double digits in points for the first time since early 2007. —Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

There are shades of coming-of-age greats like Richard Linklater’s movies and Stand by Me in the small-town, summertime adventure that unfolds. —Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, and Noun

Middle English grete, from Old English grēat; akin to Old High German grōz large

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1916, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1916, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing great

• a good/great/lovely time
• a great deal
• a great deal of
• a great one for
• be a great one for
• be great at
• do a good/great job
• go great guns
• go to extreme/great lengths
• go to great pains
• great ape
• great auk
• great-aunt
• great big
• great blue heron
• great circle
• great deal
• great divide
• great egret
• great/good many
• great group
• great horned owl
• great house
• great laurel
• great-nephew
• great-niece
• great northern bean
• great personal sacrifice
• great power
• great room
• great seal
• great skua
• great toe
• great-uncle
• great vowel shift
• great white heron
• great white hope
• great white shark
• great white whale
• great with child
• great year
• in good/great/large part
• lay great stress/emphasis on
• leave a great deal to be desired
• no great shakes
• put great demands on
• set great store by/on
• set/lay great store by
• take (great) pains
• the great majority of
• the great outdoors
• the (great) unwashed
• time is a/the great healer
• to a great extent
• to good/great effect
• with great care

Rhymes for great

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids 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