1
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind
bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect
there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature
how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor)
inexperienced wine drinkers should not start with such a big wine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in main
coming before all others in importance
the big story that year was the election of the president
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in fashionable
enjoying widespread favor or approval
jackets with very wide lapels were big that year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body
a mare big with a foal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in heavy
one of high position or importance within a group
with that new promotion he's now one of the bigs in the company
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in major league
usually bigs plural
the highest level of a field of endeavor
a candidate who is running for president is playing in the bigs and cannot afford to make major mistakes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of big
Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Jewelry has really helped us, but our big growth has been in women’s.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Not only did San Diego State graduate its three regular bigs – Kim Villalobos, Adryana Quezada and Cali Clark – from the Mountain West Tournament champions, point guard and leading scorer Veronica Sheffey transferred through the portal to TCU.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big
Adjective
Rauschenberg’s world became bigger, grander, a sky filled with unbridled gesture and thought.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Jewelry has really helped us, but our big growth has been in women’s.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
Green and Horford getting six minutes apiece in the first quarter, for example, works as Green would be fresher down the stretch of games to defend the opposition’s bigs.
—Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Not only did San Diego State graduate its three regular bigs – Kim Villalobos, Adryana Quezada and Cali Clark – from the Mountain West Tournament champions, point guard and leading scorer Veronica Sheffey transferred through the portal to TCU.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big
Adjective
-
Put another way, how are the 19,000 or so students at the third-largest school district in Arkansas performing?—
Dmitry Martirosov,
Arkansas Online,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Sea shares plunged in Tuesday trading, despite Southeast Asia’s largest tech company reporting double-digit growth in all three of its business divisions for the most recent quarter.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Obviously, injuries are playing a major factor, but will the Sabres even be able to stay afloat until the lineup is fully healthy?—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
WeRide is a member of this year’s Future 50, Fortune’s annual ranking of companies with the greatest potential for growth.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
After looking over the latest update from Jim Bowden, the odds of Bregman staying with the Red Sox are not looking too great currently.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently projected Suárez would sign a massive five-year, $135 million deal in free agency this winter, which would almost certainly be too rich for the Phillies' liking.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The pay package for Musk, already the world's richest person, consists of 12 tranches of shares to be granted if Tesla hits certain milestones over the next decade.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
But for much of the past two centuries, Port Renfrew’s main source of employment was not promoting trees but rather chopping them down—particularly, giant, old-growth trees that fetched the highest value.—
Brad Badelt,
Outside,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Rachelle Salnave, a filmmaker in Haiti, sent me videos of a piece of the Route Nationale, the country’s main transportation artery, collapsing like a glacier into a roiling, swollen river.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Limousines full of fashionable people would pull up to clubs called The Carousel, The Playpen, and The Pussycat Lounge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Setting the tone for what is sure to be a fashionable affair, the carpet brought out our most sartorial savvy faves across industries for a night celebrating craftsmanship and design.—
Cierra Black,
Refinery29,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Many of my pregnant patients start feeling nauseous weeks before their first prenatal appointment is scheduled.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Pillow menus are becoming increasingly common, with options ranging from ultra-soft to extra-firm, hypoallergenic, and even body pillows for pregnant travelers.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There is going to be a special burgundy-heavy edition of the book.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
If the Rockets go big-heavy often, Reed Sheppard loses some shine.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Big.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share