major

adjective

ˈmā-jər How to pronounce major (audio)
Definition of majornext
1
as in significant
sufficiently large in size, amount, or number to merit attention with several blockbuster hits under her belt, the actress now commands some major cash for appearing in a movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in important
having great meaning or lasting effect a major change in how science is taught in our high schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 major The backstory The Turks and Caicos resort opened in 1997 and has undergone major expansions since then, including the opening of the Italian Village in 2009 and the Key West Village in 2014. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026 Russia, a major source of diesel, has limited its exports to fight fuel shortages at home. — Matt Egan, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026 The match at Nu Stadium has major implications for the conference and Supporters’ Shield races. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 The early 1970s had brought major gains for the women’s movement. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for major
Recent Examples of Synonyms for major
  1. significant
  2. important
  3. considerable
  4. historic
  5. sizable
  6. big
  7. substantial
Adjective
  • Jenkins said sextortion is another significant concern that can impact children with law enforcement seeing particularly serious impacts among teen boys.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Construction on the new White House ballroom and demolition of the East Wing have faced significant legal challenges, though the Supreme Court recently ruled in a 5-4 decision that construction can continue.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of significant
Adjective
  • Steve Russell, vice president and general manager of Edison Works at GE Aerospace, said accelerating this type of testing is important for developing next-gen capabilities.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Turn on account alerts for purchases, transfers, password changes and other important activity.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of important
Adjective
  • The two London clubs’ transfer dealings got off to a controversial start with Ashley Cole’s infamous move from Arsenal, a deal clouded by accusations of tapping up and considerable hostility.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The completion of the Dolphin AIP programme therefore represents a considerable engineering achievement for TKMS, according to the company.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of considerable
Adjective
  • The record may come as no surprise after a summer marked by extreme weather, from wildfires to floods, and on the cusp of what scientists believe will be a historic El Niño.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2026
  • As redevelopment of the historic Brookhill Village complex in South End moves forward, developers are looking for funds to extend and beautify roadways in the enclave.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of historic
Adjective
  • Now, as van den Berg arrives for his first NFL regular season with Sunday’s Bears-Panthers opener in Charlotte, he is expected to play a sizable role as part of the Bears’ defensive line rotation.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • One of the two candidates for president, one of the country’s foremost politicians, was expressly lumping together a sizable American ethnic minority with external enemies.
    — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of sizable
Adjective
  • Moscow's bigger army is struggling to make headway on the battlefield.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Matt LaFleur needs to rally the troops to finish games stronger, hold onto big leads and finally get over the hump.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of big
Adjective
  • Its physical design is paired with substantial onboard computing, with three Turing AI chips providing up to 2,250 TOPS of effective computing power.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of carrying one sandwich or a small box, it is built to move substantial cargo between locations.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of substantial

Phrases Containing major

Browse Nearby Words

majesty
major
majordomo
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Cite this Entry

“Major.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/major. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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