great 1 of 2

adjective

ˈgrāt How to pronounce great (audio)
Definition of greatnext
1
as in excellent
of the very best kind this cake is great!

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2
as in skillful
having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor one of the great anthropologists

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3
as in noble
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature a great humanitarian great acts of charity

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4
as in long
lasting for a considerable time haven't seen them in a great while

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5
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind saw a great moose calmly walking through our backyard

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6
as in excited
showing urgent desire or interest she's great on any type of sport that requires endurance

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7
as in greatest
coming before all others in importance regards global warming as the great issue of the day

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8
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station a descendant of one of the great families of Philadelphia

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great

2 of 2

adverb

as in nicely
in a pleasing way the game was going great for the home team

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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 great
Adjective
Arraez’s previous team, San Diego, has a greater need for pitching. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Unlike most of his peers, the lead singer of the world’s greatest rock and roll band has never been one for looking back, even at the recent past. — Jem Aswad, Variety, 1 Aug. 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 See All Example Sentences for great
Recent Examples of Synonyms for great
  1. excellent
  2. skillful
  3. noble
  4. long
  5. large
  6. excited
  7. main
  8. aristocratic
Adjective
  • The neighborhood/area Just across the train tracks is Vesterbro with an excellent range of independent shops and restaurants, not least in Kødbyen, the Meat Packing district.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As for dining options, Cafe Genevieve serves an excellent breakfast and brunch, and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar draws crowds for a taste of Western-style eats like bison burgers and elk sliders.
    — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • What is not explicit on screen or in the financial results is the intense amount of skillful work, preparation, promotion, production, marketing, and ad sales that goes on behind the scenes.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The Norwegian soccer superstar, 26, took social media by storm throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, between his skillful talent on the pitch and his team’s celebratory Viking row.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Definition of skillful
Adjective
  • While that’s a noble and smart goal, there is some wiggle room.
    — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The movie taps into what’s noble and valid and genuine about those feelings.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of noble
Adjective
  • Dean Fabrizio and James Teter, each hired in 2009, have been at their Class 6A schools the longest.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Although the resort sits directly on the water, don’t come expecting a long, walkable beach.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of long
Adjective
  • Its brightest stars form a large cross, often called the Northern Cross, with Deneb marking the top and colorful double-star Albireo the base.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The emergence of additional Chinese prototypes suggests that competition between the world’s two largest military powers is extending beyond current fifth-generation aircraft into the race for future air dominance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of large
Adjective
  • One player Nakase is excited to work with is someone her team was prepared to face on Friday night – Dallas star guard Paige Bueckers.
    — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • This will also be its first year since 2024, when Latino Fest returned after a five-year break to excited crowds.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of excited
Adjective
  • Al-Hilal is keen to offload the player, who is training separately from their main squad and not in coach Simoene Inzaghi's plans.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The Nazca Lines, ​enormous drawings and ⁠geometric figures etched into desert plains in the south of the country, are one of Peru’s main tourist destinations, attracting approximately ​100,000 annual visitors.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Despite no longer being official royal house members, they are styled with aristocratic titles and remain in the line of succession.
    — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • The Hotel Due Mari, a 17th-century aristocratic villa formerly owned by the marquesses of Bolasco, sits between Sestri’s two bays.
    — Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of aristocratic

Phrases Containing great

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greasy spoons
great
greatcoat
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Cite this Entry

“Great.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/great. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of great for Spanish Speakers

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