1
2
a
: large in number or measure : numerous
great multitudes
b
: predominant
the great majority
3
: remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness
great bloodshed
4
—used as a generalized term of approval
had a great time
It was just great.
5
a
: eminent, distinguished
a great poet
b
: aristocratic, grand
great ladies
c
: chief or preeminent over others
—often used in titles
Lord Great Chamberlain
6
: markedly superior in character or quality
7
a
: remarkably skilled
great at tennis
b
: marked by enthusiasm : keen
great on science fiction
8
: more remote in a family relationship by a single generation than a specified relative
great-grandfather
9
: long continued
a great while
11
: full of emotion
great with anger
plural great or greats
: an outstandingly superior or skillful person
a tribute to the greats of baseball
Examples of great in a Sentence
Adjective
all creatures great and small
The project will require a great amount of time and money.
The building was restored at great expense.
a great quantity of fish
The low cost of these products gives them great appeal.
There is a very great need for reform.
They're in no great hurry to finish.
There is a great demand for his services.
an actress of great charm
Is there any love greater than that between parent and child?
Adverb
We had some problems at first, but now things are going just great.
Keep up the good work. You're doing great!
Recent Examples on the Web
Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Women are at much greater risk of dementia than men—as many as two-thirds of people in the US with Alzheimer’s disease are women—and likely for a mix of reasons that experts are still parsing out.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Sep. 2025
Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
So everything was working great.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 9 Sep. 2025
In recent years Reservoir has acquired rights to such catalogs as jazz great Sonny Rollins and Tommy Boy Records, which includes rap greats De La Soul among many other early hip-hop releases.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for great
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
For those scoring at home, that means the average field size was ten which makes for great competition.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Women are at much greater risk of dementia than men—as many as two-thirds of people in the US with Alzheimer’s disease are women—and likely for a mix of reasons that experts are still parsing out.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 15 Sep. 2025
Adverb
The Beatles great last entertained Chicago in July 2017.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
So everything was working great.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Angel Reese has made a huge impact in the WNBA in just two years, earning her some comparisons to all-time basketball greats.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 9 Sep. 2025
In recent years Reservoir has acquired rights to such catalogs as jazz great Sonny Rollins and Tommy Boy Records, which includes rap greats De La Soul among many other early hip-hop releases.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for great
Cite this Entry
“Great.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
great
1 of 3 adjective
ˈgrāt 
in South also ˈgre(ə)t
1
: large in size : not small or little
2
: large in number : numerous
a great crowd
3
: long continued
a great while
4
: beyond the average or ordinary
a great weight
in great pain
5
: distinguished, prominent
a great artist
6
: more distant in relationship by one generation
7
: superior in quality or character
8
: remarkable in skill
great at tennis
9
—used as a term of general approval
had a great time
greatly
adverb
greatness
noun
great
2 of 3 adverb
: in a great manner : successfully, well
great
3 of 3 noun
plural great or greats
: an outstandingly superior or skillful person
the greats of baseball
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