big
big — adjective
1. greater than usual in physical size, number, or quantity.
greater than usual in physical size, number, or quantity.
The bakery ordered a big oven for the new shop downtown.
big + concrete noun for size
A big crowd waited outside the stadium before the singer arrived.
big + crowd for large number
My aunt grows big tomatoes in wooden boxes behind her kitchen.
That jacket looks big on Leo, so try the smaller one.
predicative use after 'look'
We need a big table because twelve cousins are coming tonight.
- big house
- big crowd
- big bag
- big table
- big eyes
Grammar Patterns
big + noun
be/look/feel + big
Usage Note
Covers both physical size and large amounts. Distinguish from sense 6: 'a big problem' usually means important or serious, not physically large.
Common Mistakes
2. important, serious, or powerful enough to have a strong effect.
important, serious, or powerful enough to have a strong effect.
Choosing a new school was a big decision for the whole family.
big + decision/problem/difference
There is a big difference between hearing advice and following it.
Losing that bridge would be a big problem for nearby farms.
The bank's failure had a big effect on small shops downtown.
big effect on + noun
Tonight's debate became the big story on every local channel.
- big decision
- big difference
- big problem
- big effect
- big story
Grammar Patterns
big + decision/problem/difference/effect
Usage Note
Usually appears before nouns such as 'decision', 'difference', 'problem', 'risk', or 'story'. Distinguish from adjective/7 in the other chunk, where 'big' means well-known or influential in a place or field, not simply serious or important.
Common Mistakes
3. older than another child, or old enough to be expected to act in a more adult wa
older than another child, or old enough to be expected to act in a more adult way.
Eva's big sister walked her across the road on Monday.
big sister = older sister
The big kids sat in the front row for the school play.
At ten, Wairimu is big enough to wash her own cup.
big enough + to-infinitive
Mom said Eli was too big for a bedtime story now.
- big sister
- big brother
- big kids
- big enough to know better
Grammar Patterns
big brother/sister
big enough + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Often used in family roles such as 'big brother' and 'big sister', and in 'big enough to ...' when talking about expected behaviour. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about size rather than age or maturity.
Common Mistakes
4. in the phrase 'in a big way', to a very great degree or with strong effect.
in the phrase 'in a big way', to a very great degree or with strong effect.
After the concert, Hana fell for the drummer in a big way.
fixed phrase: in a big way
Since the storm, food prices have risen in a big way.
Luca's sleep improved in a big way after he stopped coffee.
Her life changed in a big way after her song spread online.
change + in a big way
- change in a big way
- rise in a big way
- fall for someone in a big way
- slightly
shows only a small degree of change or feeling
Grammar Patterns
in a big way
Usage Note
Usually appears after verbs about feelings, change, growth, or increase. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense stresses degree, not how wide the spread is.
Common Mistakes
5. in the phrase 'in a big way', across many people, places, or activities, or over
in the phrase 'in a big way', across many people, places, or activities, or over a broad area.
The chain plans to expand in a big way across southern India.
large-scale expansion in a big way
Solar power is growing in a big way in many farming towns.
Online classes took off in a big way during the long strike.
The museum wants to use local artists in a big way next year.
use something in a big way
- expand in a big way
- grow in a big way
- use something in a big way
- widely
focuses on spread rather than intensity
- broadly
often used for general spread or use
- on a large scale
more formal and more explicit
- locally
limited to one area
- in a limited way
shows small scale rather than broad spread
Grammar Patterns
in a big way
Usage Note
Also mostly appears in 'in a big way', but here the idea is broad spread or large-scale activity. Distinguish from sense 4, which can describe one person's feeling or one change becoming stronger.
Common Mistakes
6. liking someone or something very much and showing strong interest in it.
liking someone or something very much and showing strong interest in it.
Nina is big on morning runs before work.
be big on + activity
Grandpa is big on old train maps and station photos.
be big on + thing
The twins are big on Korean dramas this year.
Aunt Mei has never been big on spicy food.
Leo is big on meeting new people when he travels.
be big on + gerund
- big on exercise
- big on Korean dramas
- big on spicy food
- big on meeting people
- uninterested in
shows little or no interest
- against
suggests active dislike or opposition
Grammar Patterns
be big on + noun
be big on + gerund
Usage Note
This informal sense is usually followed by 'on'. It often talks about hobbies, food, music, or ways of doing things.
Common Mistakes
7. used about a product, style, or activity that huge numbers of people like, buy,
used about a product, style, or activity that huge numbers of people like, buy, or talk about.
Vinyl records are big again with college students in Kaohsiung.
be big with + group
Cold brew tea became big after the summer music festival.
become big
Escape rooms were big on social media last winter.
That dance app is still big among junior high students.
be big among + group
- big with students
- big among teenagers
- become big
- still big
- unpopular
not liked by many people
- old-fashioned
no longer attractive or current
Grammar Patterns
be big with + group
be big among + group
become big
Usage Note
Most often describes trends, entertainment, food, or activities. Distinguish from sense 7, where a person or thing is big in a place or field because of status there.
8. well known and treated as important within one place, scene, or area of work.
well known and treated as important within one place, scene, or area of work.
That singer was already big in Taiwan before her world tour.
be big in + place
Before television, Ken was big in local radio across Hsinchu.
be big in + field
The charity became big in southern Taiwan after years of flood work.
For young jazz fans, Ella is still big in New Orleans clubs.
- big in Taiwan
- big in local radio
- big in fashion
- big in jazz clubs
- famous
stresses being widely known, not always having influence
- influential
focuses more on power over people or decisions
- prominent
slightly more formal and often used in news or public writing
Grammar Patterns
be big in + place
be big in + field
Usage Note
Usually follows the verb 'be'. Distinguish from sense 8, which is about a product or activity being very popular, not about having standing in a place or field.
Common Mistakes
9. showing kindness, fairness, or forgiveness, especially after someone could have
showing kindness, fairness, or forgiveness, especially after someone could have reacted badly.
It was big of Maria to thank the nurse after the mistake.
it is big of + person + to-infinitive
Even after losing, Hana was big enough to shake Carla's hand.
be big enough to + verb
That was big of your brother after such a rough game.
At the meeting, Jenna was big enough to praise her old rival.
- big of you
- big of him
- big enough to apologize
- big enough to shake hands
Grammar Patterns
it is big of + person + to-infinitive
be big enough to + verb
Usage Note
Most common in the patterns 'It was big of ... to ...' and 'be big enough to ...'. It often appears after an argument, a loss, or some other tense moment.
Common Mistakes
10. put before a noun to make the description sound stronger or more emotional.
put before a noun to make the description sound stronger or more emotional.
Stop being a big baby about the cold swimming pool.
emphatic: big + insulting noun
The twins called Max a big bully after he hid their ball.
After the trick failed, Ben felt like a big idiot.
Don't be such a big show-off during the science fair.
common spoken pattern: such a big + noun
- big baby
- big bully
- big idiot
- big show-off
Grammar Patterns
big + insulting or emotional noun
Usage Note
Mainly used before a noun, especially in emotional labels such as insults or self-criticism. It adds force more than new factual meaning.
Common Mistakes
11. carrying a baby and showing it clearly because the stomach has grown large.
carrying a baby and showing it clearly because the stomach has grown large.
By spring, the farm dog was big and needed shorter walks.
informal use for pregnancy
The old neighbors said Rosa was big and due in October.
Everyone could see the mare was big before the county fair.
be big
By late summer, Lena was big and washing tiny baby clothes.
- look big
- be big by summer
- big and due soon
- pregnant
the normal neutral word
- expecting
common and slightly softer in tone
- with child
old-fashioned and more literary
Grammar Patterns
be big
look big
Usage Note
Mostly an older or informal way to talk about pregnancy, especially when it is easy to see. Learners usually want the neutral word 'pregnant' instead.
to act too proud and behave as if you are more important than you really are.
After one television interview, Kevin got too big for his boots.
a big cheese
idioman important or powerful person, especially inside a company or group.
At the charity dinner, Mei finally met the company's big cheese.
big deal!
idiomsaid to show that you are not impressed by something.
So you finished first once. Big deal, Wairimu.
the big enchilada
idiomthe most important person or thing in a situation.
Everyone wanted five minutes with the big enchilada before lunch.
a person who seems important inside a small group or place.
In that village school, Coach Lin was a big fish in a small pond.
a big girl's blouse
idioma British offensive term for a man thought to be weak, timid, or lacking confidence.
The older boys cruelly called Ben a big girl's blouse after the race.
(the) big mo
idiomstrong forward movement or winning energy, especially in politics or competition.
After three victories, the mayor's campaign clearly had the big mo.
someone widely seen as important, successful, or influential.
Uncle Ray acts like a big shot whenever reporters visit town.
the big picture
idiomthe whole situation, not just the small details.
Step back and look at the big picture before cutting staff.
the big stick
idiomthe use or threat of force to make people obey.
The union answered threats with talks, not the big stick.
the three, four, or other small number of most important people, groups, or companies.
Her firm now supplies parts to the Big Three.
said when someone has taken more food than they can eat.
Mina's eyes were bigger than her stomach, so half the noodles remained.
to clap loudly to show approval, or to receive that applause.
Please give a big hand to the students who cleaned the beach.
to have more important or more interesting things to do.
I can't argue about posters today; I have bigger fish to fry.
have a big mouth
idiomto be bad at keeping secrets and tell people things too easily.
Don't tell Ezra yet; Nina has a big mouth.
in a big/small way
idiomon a large scale or on only a limited scale.
The cafe started small but now sells frozen meals in a big way.
to treat something as more important or serious than it really is.
The coach made a big thing about arriving five minutes late.
me and my big mouth
idiomsaid when you realize you should not have said something.
I told Rosa about the surprise party. Me and my big mouth.
the next big thing
idioma person or product expected to become very popular or successful soon.
Critics are calling Yuna the next big thing in skateboarding.
no big deal
idiomused to say that something is not important or not a problem.
Missing one bus is no big deal; another comes soon.
too big to fail
idiomso important to an economy that the government is expected to save it if trouble comes.
Many voters hated rescuing banks that were too big to fail.
a big girl’s blouse
idiomThis is an insulting way to describe a man who is not strong or brave.
Tom called his brother a big girl's blouse for crying.
Don't be such a big girl's blouse, just ask her out.
This means someone has taken more food than they can actually eat.
Mia's eyes were bigger than her stomach at the buffet.
I think my eyes are bigger than my stomach with this cake.
big — adverb
1. in an ambitious way that uses a lot of money, space, or effort, or aims at a wid
in an ambitious way that uses a lot of money, space, or effort, or aims at a wide effect.
The cafe went big for its tenth birthday and rented the whole plaza.
go big for a large event
From the start, Mira thought big and planned tours across Asia.
think big for ambitious planning
This year the museum is going big with night shows and street food.
go big with + feature
The company is building big in Vietnam with three new factories.
- think big
- go big
- build big
- plan big
- ambitiously
focuses more on high aims than on visible scale
- boldly
stresses courage or risk, not necessarily size
- on a grand scale
more formal phrase for very large scope
- modestly
with limited aims or spending
- on a small scale
without wide reach or large resources
Grammar Patterns
think big
go big
build big
plan big
Usage Note
Most often appears in business, event, and planning talk, especially in patterns like 'think big' and 'go big'. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes how large the outcome is, not how large the plan is.
Common Mistakes
2. with very large gains, losses, or effects, especially when the result is much gr
with very large gains, losses, or effects, especially when the result is much greater than usual.
The bakery won big at the city food awards last night.
win big for major success
Farouk's small idea paid off big after her video went online.
pay off big for strong effect
Investors lost big when the bridge project stopped in March.
lose big for heavy losses
Our school scored big in the science fair this spring.
- win big
- pay off big
- lose big
- score big
Grammar Patterns
win big
pay off big
lose big
score big
Usage Note
Usually follows verbs of result such as 'win', 'lose', 'score', or 'pay off'. Distinguish from sense 2, where the plan or action itself is large in scale, as in 'think big'.
Common Mistakes
3. in a loud, showy, self-important way, especially when someone is making claims a
in a loud, showy, self-important way, especially when someone is making claims about themselves or their plans.
Leo talked big after one lucky win at the school pool table.
talk big for boastful speech
At dinner, the new coach spoke big about winning every game.
speak big about future success
After one small contract, the brothers started talking big about hotels.
On the bus home, Trevor was still talking big about boxing.
- talk big
- speak big
- start talking big
- keep talking big
- boastfully
the closest neutral equivalent
- swaggeringly
adds a stronger show-off attitude
- loudly
can match the noisy tone, but not always the boasting
Grammar Patterns
talk big
speak big
Usage Note
Mostly used with 'talk' or 'speak'. Unlike sense 1, it does not describe a large result; it describes an overconfident tone.
Common Mistakes
4. with great force, especially when hitting or serving a ball in sport.
with great force, especially when hitting or serving a ball in sport.
On match point, Keiko served big and forced a weak return.
serve big for a powerful shot
The left-hander hits big from the back court on clay.
hit big in tennis reporting
Even in the rain, Omar swung big at every short ball.
Near the end, Ava served big and won the game quickly.
play big off both wings
- serve big
- hit big
- swing big
- play big off both wings
- hard
the nearest basic word for this sense
- powerfully
more general and less tied to sports commentary
- aggressively
can include force and attacking intent together
Grammar Patterns
serve big
hit big
swing big
play big off the baseline
Usage Note
Rare and mostly found in sports writing, especially tennis. It usually describes the power of a shot, not the size of a plan or the size of a result.
Common Mistakes
big — noun
1. in basketball, a tall player, usually one who plays close to the basket.
in basketball, a tall player, usually one who plays close to the basket.
Coach Rivera started two bigs against the taller team from Seoul.
play two bigs
Farouk's brother is the only big on his high school team.
the only big on [team]
When Leo drove toward the basket, the big waited near the net.
The coach asked every big to block shots and grab rebounds.
basketball tasks of a big
At six foot eight, Noah became the team's strongest big this season.
- two bigs
- a stretch big
- inside big
- the team's big
- center
a specific position, while 'big' can include some forwards too
- post player
focuses on playing near the basket rather than on body size
- big man
older informal term; often used for male players
- guard
usually a smaller outside player handling the ball or defending the perimeter
Grammar Patterns
a big
play two bigs
Usage Note
Mainly used in basketball talk by coaches, players, and commentators. Singular 'a big' names one player; plural 'bigs' often contrasts with 'guards' on the same team.
Common Mistakes
2. the highest professional level in a sport, especially baseball, where the strong
the highest professional level in a sport, especially baseball, where the strongest teams and players compete.
After eight years in the minors, Luis finally made the bigs.
make the bigs
Her father spent one summer in the bigs before a shoulder injury.
in the bigs
Reporters crowded around the rookie when he got his first call to the bigs.
call to the bigs
Only a few pitchers from that small town ever reach the bigs.
- make the bigs
- reach the bigs
- in the bigs
- a call to the bigs
- the majors
especially common in baseball
- major leagues
more explicit and slightly less slangy
- top flight
broader sports term, often used beyond baseball
- the minors
the lower professional level that feeds players upward
- minor leagues
full form of 'the minors', especially in baseball
Grammar Patterns
make the bigs
play in the bigs
get called up to the bigs
Usage Note
Almost always appears as 'the bigs' in American baseball writing and speech. It refers to the top professional level as a whole, not to one particular club.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- bignessnounC2
- biggishadjectiveC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
"Big" is the plain everyday word for something larger than usual, and it works for both physical size and amount: a big bag, a big crowd, a big increase. "Large" is close in meaning but sounds a little more neutral or formal, so it is common in notices, reports, and measurements. "Huge" is stronger and suggests something strikingly large. "Enormous" is even more emphatic and often sounds more dramatic. "Massive" often adds an idea of weight, thickness, or solid strength, not just size. So you might say a big kitchen table at home, a large payment in a report, a huge wave at the beach, an enormous stadium in travel writing, and a massive stone wall in a history book.
Etymology
Big entered English in Middle English around 1300. In its earlier northern English use, it often meant something closer to strong or powerful before the idea of large size became central. Its deeper origin is uncertain, but major dictionaries suggest a possible Scandinavian source. From there, English extended big beyond physical size to age, importance, popularity, enthusiasm, and later adverb uses such as win big and think big.