larger; largest
1
a
: exceeding most other things of like kind especially in quantity or size : big
a large number of complaints
b
: dealing in great numbers or quantities
a large and highly profitable business
2
a
: having more than usual capacity or scope : comprehensive
take the large view
will take a larger role in the negotiations
c
: very successful or popular
a large rock band
3
: extravagant, boastful
large talk
4
of a wind
: favorable
5
obsolete
: lavish
6
largeness
noun
1
: in a large manner : extravagantly
living large
2
: with the wind abaft the beam
1
slang
: a thousand dollars
2
obsolete
: liberality, generosity
Synonyms
Examples of large in a Sentence
Adjective
a large glass of water
It's the largest city in the state.
These T-shirts are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
Which city has the largest population?
Her policies are supported by a large part of the population.
A large number of workers have filed complaints.
He has a very large appetite.
Adverb
college students living large on generous allowances from indulgent parents
Noun
These shirts are all larges.
“What size ice-cream cones do you want?” “We'll take three larges and a small.”
Recent Examples on the Web
USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
But analysts say the match between the two different chains was a poor fit, and Dollar Tree has struggled to manage the larger Family Dollar store base.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
As the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities continue to increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the ocean is absorbing a large portion of the CO2, which is making seawater more acidic.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Toyota offered initial specs for the RV last year—at nearly 20-feet-long, 17-feet-wide, and 12.5-feet-tall, the rover will be about as large as two minibusses parked side-by-side.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
Grande also shared a video of her and Erivo introducing footage from Wicked onstage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace during Universal Pictures’ Focus Features Presentation, speaking in front of a large crowd of fans armed with light-up wands.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
The event spinoff pic is a cornerstone of Paramount’s slate, and hopes to be another win for the innovative horror franchise created by John Krasinski that turned into a major hit after successfully proving that original stories can work on a large, commercial scale.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Set back from the road, the estate is surrounded by lush foliage that ensures privacy, and the large pool is surrounded by stone terracing with plenty of room for taking in the summer sun.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
The influx will represent the largest movement of Americans to Brazil for a single event, showcasing the substantial impact of strategic international collaborations on local economies and global cultural relations.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2023
And while his body wasn’t physically present, as is typical at a real wake, the spirit of Carlos Marín loomed large over the show.
—Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Feb. 2022
The Zyliss also boasts an impressive capacity that can hold up to six servings of salad, and the large-holed colander removes water faster than other brands without holding your herbs hostage.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 29 Sep. 2021
The holy site has become a proxy for who controls Jerusalem (the eastern part of which remains occupied under international law and which both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital) and of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict writ large.
—Yasmeen Serhan, Time, 4 Jan. 2023
Hitler’s defense lawyer talks about how the right to a fair trial is a tenant not only of justice writ large, but also of Jewish morality.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2023
Ferreira accessorized her summery look with large-framed gold wired glasses, a simple gold necklace and a few rings.
—Zizi Strater, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2023
Don't let limited space stop you from living large!
—Amanda Sims Clifford, House Beautiful, 19 Dec. 2022
There is no simple solution to all of this, or to addressing the myriad concerns people may have about booster doses, initial Covid-19 vaccines, the healthcare system or the government writ large, or people’s lack of concern about Covid-19 itself.
—Emily K. Brunson, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2022
Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
There are two sizes of this bag; the medium has an 11.6-liter capacity for its main compartment, while the large has a 15.5-liter capacity.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2024
There's a reason a large of Congresswomen are former scouts!
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Always steamed fresh, blue male crabs ($130 per dozen) seemed slightly big for larges and maintained moistness without being wet.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
As a protégé of Diana Vreeland and the epitome of sartorial aristocracy, Talley brought his inimitable love for grandeur as an editor-at-large to the pages of Vogue for four decades.
—Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 24 Jan. 2023
Board members are elected at-large to three-year, staggered terms representing the entire Frisco ISD community.
—Dallas News, 4 Jan. 2023
André Leon Talley, the hugely influential fashion journalist and flamboyant former editor-at-large of U.S. Vogue, died at the age of 73.
—Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2022
He was known for being an American fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, and editor-at-large of Vogue magazine.
—The Editors, Town & Country, 29 Dec. 2022
Adjective
The crew watches helplessly as the bridge looms larger and larger until, just four minutes after the alarm sounded, their vessel slams into one of its main support columns.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
But analysts say the match between the two different chains was a poor fit, and Dollar Tree has struggled to manage the larger Family Dollar store base.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
As the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities continue to increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the ocean is absorbing a large portion of the CO2, which is making seawater more acidic.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Toyota offered initial specs for the RV last year—at nearly 20-feet-long, 17-feet-wide, and 12.5-feet-tall, the rover will be about as large as two minibusses parked side-by-side.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024
Grande also shared a video of her and Erivo introducing footage from Wicked onstage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace during Universal Pictures’ Focus Features Presentation, speaking in front of a large crowd of fans armed with light-up wands.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024
The event spinoff pic is a cornerstone of Paramount’s slate, and hopes to be another win for the innovative horror franchise created by John Krasinski that turned into a major hit after successfully proving that original stories can work on a large, commercial scale.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Set back from the road, the estate is surrounded by lush foliage that ensures privacy, and the large pool is surrounded by stone terracing with plenty of room for taking in the summer sun.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
The influx will represent the largest movement of Americans to Brazil for a single event, showcasing the substantial impact of strategic international collaborations on local economies and global cultural relations.
—Kate Vitasek, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Adverb
But scandals loomed large over Benedict's papacy.
—Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2023
And while his body wasn’t physically present, as is typical at a real wake, the spirit of Carlos Marín loomed large over the show.
—Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Feb. 2022
The Zyliss also boasts an impressive capacity that can hold up to six servings of salad, and the large-holed colander removes water faster than other brands without holding your herbs hostage.
—Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 29 Sep. 2021
The holy site has become a proxy for who controls Jerusalem (the eastern part of which remains occupied under international law and which both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital) and of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict writ large.
—Yasmeen Serhan, Time, 4 Jan. 2023
Hitler’s defense lawyer talks about how the right to a fair trial is a tenant not only of justice writ large, but also of Jewish morality.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2023
Ferreira accessorized her summery look with large-framed gold wired glasses, a simple gold necklace and a few rings.
—Zizi Strater, Peoplemag, 9 Jan. 2023
Don't let limited space stop you from living large!
—Amanda Sims Clifford, House Beautiful, 19 Dec. 2022
There is no simple solution to all of this, or to addressing the myriad concerns people may have about booster doses, initial Covid-19 vaccines, the healthcare system or the government writ large, or people’s lack of concern about Covid-19 itself.
—Emily K. Brunson, WSJ, 8 Dec. 2022
Noun
The set comes with two organizers, one medium and the other large.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
There are two sizes of this bag; the medium has an 11.6-liter capacity for its main compartment, while the large has a 15.5-liter capacity.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2024
There's a reason a large of Congresswomen are former scouts!
—Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Always steamed fresh, blue male crabs ($130 per dozen) seemed slightly big for larges and maintained moistness without being wet.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 17 July 2023
As a protégé of Diana Vreeland and the epitome of sartorial aristocracy, Talley brought his inimitable love for grandeur as an editor-at-large to the pages of Vogue for four decades.
—Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 24 Jan. 2023
Board members are elected at-large to three-year, staggered terms representing the entire Frisco ISD community.
—Dallas News, 4 Jan. 2023
André Leon Talley, the hugely influential fashion journalist and flamboyant former editor-at-large of U.S. Vogue, died at the age of 73.
—Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2022
He was known for being an American fashion journalist, stylist, creative director, and editor-at-large of Vogue magazine.
—The Editors, Town & Country, 29 Dec. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'large.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective, Adverb, and Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French, broad, wide, generous, from Latin largus generous, plentiful
First Known Use
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of large was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing large
Dictionary Entries Near large
Cite this Entry
“Large.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/large. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
large
adjectiveˈlärj
larger; largest
: greater, bigger, more extended, or more powerful than usual
largeness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on large
Nglish: Translation of large for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of large for Arabic Speakers
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