greatness

noun

great·​ness ˈgrāt-nəs 

: the quality or state of being great (as in size, skill, achievement, or power)

Today, many Inca buildings still stand—all witnesses to an empire of unforgettable greatness.

—Michelle Laliberte

An understanding of the visible world became a better way of understanding the greatness of God.

—Mario Salvadori

I came back convinced that bourbon and its cousins are America's contribution to world distillery, with as strong a claim to greatness as anything from Scotland, Ireland, or Canada.

—Corby Kummer

… young team that came within a game of reaching the World Series, a team on the verge of greatness.

—Barry Rozner

Tyson, 33, has long since abandoned any claim to boxing greatness, having squandered his promise in two jail sentences, a suspension and several gory defeats.

—Richard Hoffer

Synonyms of greatness

• excellence
• excellency

Examples of greatness in a Sentence

a poet whose work is of enduring greatness

the overwhelming greatness of the canyon is what visitors first notice

Recent Examples on the Web

Michael Jordan, the fourth of five children, has credited his older brother Larry with fueling his legendary competitive fire, while Serena Williams — the youngest of five sisters — surpassed even the greatness of older sister Venus. —Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026

Anyone who’s attempted to sing Mariah Carey’s catalog at karaoke or in the comforts of their car knows that matching the greatness of Mimi is often an insurmountable task. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026

All of Russia is centered around Putin’s rule, and Putin is represented as the powerful male leader upon whose shoulders Russian greatness rests. —Literary Hub, 30 Jan. 2026

But this bag’s greatness goes beyond its weight. —Nathan Allen, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing greatness

• the stuff of greatness

Rhymes for greatness

• lateness
• straightness