Big vs. Great — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 15, 2024
"Big" emphasizes size or extent, whereas "great" denotes excellence or significance.
Difference Between Big and Great
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Big" often refers to physical size, volume, or extent, highlighting the largeness or vastness of an object, person, or concept. On the other hand, "great" conveys a sense of superiority, excellence, or significance, often in terms of quality, importance, or influence.
While "big" can simply describe the dimensions or scale of something without implying value judgment, "great" implies a positive evaluation, suggesting that something is not only large in size but also notable in quality or impact.
In some contexts, "big" can also imply importance or significance, as in "a big decision," but it primarily focuses on the magnitude rather than the quality. Conversely, "great" can denote a large extent or scope, as in "a great distance," but its primary connotation is excellence or significance.
The distinction between "big" and "great" becomes crucial in communication, where choosing one over the other can change the perceived meaning or emphasis of a statement. For example, "a big victory" emphasizes the scale of the win, while "a great victory" emphasizes its significance or excellence.
Despite their differences, "big" and "great" can sometimes be used interchangeably in casual conversation, especially when describing something that is both large in size and remarkable in quality or importance. However, the choice of term can subtly influence the listener's perception of the subject being discussed.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
Large in size, extent, or capacity
Superior in quality, importance, or excellence
Contextual Usage
Physical dimensions, scale
Quality, significance, impact
Connotation
Neutral, focusing on size
Positive, suggesting superiority
Secondary Meaning
Importance or significance
Large scope or extent
Examples
"A big house" (large size)
"A great achievement" (high quality)
Compare with Definitions
Big
Large in size, volume, or extent.
The big elephant dominated the zoo exhibit.
Great
Denotes something of superior quality, excellence, or significance.
She is recognized for her great talent in painting.
Big
In some contexts, it denotes a high degree or intensity.
The game last night was a big disappointment.
Great
Can imply a large scale or scope, beyond mere physical size.
The great plains stretch for miles.
Big
Often used to describe something of considerable size or importance.
It was a big decision for her to move abroad.
Great
Often used to express admiration or approval.
That was a great performance!
Big
Can imply a significant impact or influence.
The big storm caused widespread damage.
Great
Used historically to denote notable figures or periods.
Alexander the Great.
Big
Sometimes used in informal settings to denote popularity or trendiness.
Vintage fashion is really big right now.
Great
In everyday language, it can express enthusiasm or satisfaction.
We had a great time at the concert.
Big
Of considerable size or extent
Big staff cuts
Big buildings
Her big hazel eyes
Great
Very large in size, extent, or intensity
A great pile of rubble.
A great storm.
Big
Of considerable importance or seriousness
It's a big decision
His biggest problem is money
He made a big mistake
Great
Of a larger size than other, similar forms
The great anteater.
Big
Generous
‘I'm inclined to take pity on you.’ ‘That's big of you!’
Great
Large in quantity or number
A great throng awaited us.
Big
Praise or recommend something highly
The record's been on the streets a while now, but it's still worth bigging up
Great
Extensive in time or distance
A great delay.
A great way off.
Big
The major league in a professional sport
The day he made it to the bigs, he forgot every minor league ballpark he ever played in
Great
Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent
A great crisis.
Great anticipation.
Big
Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large.
Great
Of outstanding significance or importance
A great work of art.
Big
Having great strength or force
A big wind.
In a big rage.
Great
Chief or principal
The great house on the estate.
Big
Of great significance; momentous
A big decision.
A big victory.
Great
Superior in quality or character; noble
A great man who dedicated himself to helping others.
Big
Mature or grown-up
Big enough to take the bus by herself.
Great
Powerful; influential
One of the great nations of the West.
Big
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling
My big brother is leaving for college next week.
Great
Eminent; distinguished
A great leader.
Big
Filled up; brimming over
Felt big with love.
Great
Very good; first-rate
We had a great time at the dance.
Big
Bountiful; generous
Had a big heart.
Great
Very skillful
She is great at algebra.
Big
Pregnant
Big with child.
Great
Enthusiastic
A great lover of music.
Big
Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence
A big official.
A big chief.
Great
Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination
A great-granddaughter.
Big
Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent
A big figure in the peace movement.
Great
(Archaic) Pregnant.
Big
Loud and firm; resounding
A big voice.
Great
Pl. greats or great One that is great
A composer considered among the greats.
Big
(Informal) Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular
"The Minneapolis indie-rock band was big in the blogosphere, beloved by hipsters, and unknown to pretty much everyone else" (Robert Levine).
Great
A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.
Big
(Informal) Self-important; cocky
You're too big for your own good.
Great
A similar division of other organs.
Big
In a pretentious or boastful way
Talked big about the new job.
Great
Very well
Got along great with the teacher.
Big
With considerable success
Made it big with their recent best-selling album.
Great
Used as an intensive with certain adjectives
A great big kiss.
Big
In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically
Failed big at the box office.
Great
(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional
Big
Of great size, large.
Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.
Great
Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.
A great storm is approaching our shores.
A great assembly
A great wait
Big
(informal) Fat.
Gosh, she is big!
Great
Title referring to an important leader.
Alexander the Great
Big
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
Great
Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.
The great auk
Big
(informal) Well-endowed, possessing large breasts in the case of a woman or a large penis in the case of a man.
Whoa, Nadia has gotten pretty big since she hit puberty.
Great
(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.
Dinner was great.
Big
Old, mature. Used to imply that somebody is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
Great
Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.
A dirty great smack in the face
Great Scott!
Big
.informal Mature, conscientious, principled; generous.
That's very big of you; thank you!
I tried to be the bigger person and just let it go, but I couldn't help myself.
Great
(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]
Great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather
Big
(informal) Important or significant.
What's so big about that? I do it all the time.
Great
Pregnant; large with young; full of.
Great with child
Great with hope
Big
Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Great
Intimate; familiar.
Big
(of a city) Populous.
Great
Extreme or more than usual.
Great worry
Big
(informal) Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns
You are a big liar.
Why are you in such a big hurry?
Great
Of significant importance or consequence; important.
A great decision
Big
Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence.
There were concerns about the ethics of big pharma.
Big money
Big Tech, Big Steel (large or influential tech or steel companies)
Big Science (science performed by large terms, of large scope, with government or corporate funding)
Great
(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.
A great deed
A great nature
A great history
Big
Enthusiastic (about).
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Great
Impressive or striking.
A great show of wealth
Big
In a loud manner.
Great
Much in use; favoured.
Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.
Big
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
Great
(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.
A great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.
Big
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
Great
Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.
What a great buffoon!
He's not a great one for reading.
A great walker
Big
On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
Great
(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.
A great carpenter
You are great at singing.
Big
Hard.
He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.
Great
Expression of gladness and content about something.
Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.
Big
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
Great
Sarcastic inversion thereof.
Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.
Big
(in the plural) The big leagues, big time.
Great
A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.
Big
(university slang) A initiated member of a sorority who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
Great
(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
Big
(BDSM) The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Great
(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
My three-greats grandmother.
Big
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
Great
(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.
Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.
Big
To inhabit; occupy.
Great
Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.
Big
To locate oneself.
Great
Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.
Big
To build; erect; fashion.
Great
Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.
Big
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Great
Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.
Big
Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
Great
Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.
Big
Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; - often figuratively.
[Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome.
Great
Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.
He doth object I am too great of birth.
Big
Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride.
God hath not in heaven a bigger argument.
I talked big to them at first.
Great
Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.
Big
Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg."
Great
Pregnant; big (with young).
The ewes great with young.
Big
To build.
Great
More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.
We have allGreat cause to give great thanks.
Big
Above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A large city
Set out for the big city
A large sum
A big (or large) barn
A large family
Big businesses
A big expenditure
A large number of newspapers
A big group of scientists
Large areas of the world
Great
Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; - often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.
Big
Significant;
Graduation was a big day in his life
Great
The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.
Big
Of very great significance;
Deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decision
A momentous event
Great
Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;
A great juicy steak
A great multitude
The great auk
A great old oak
A great ocean liner
A great delay
Big
Conspicuous in position or importance;
A big figure in the movement
Big man on campus
He's very large in financial circles
A prominent citizen
Great
More than usual;
Great expectations
Great worry
Big
Very intense;
A bad headache
In a big rage
Had a big (or bad) shock
A bad earthquake
A bad storm
Great
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;
Our distinguished professor
An eminent scholar
A great statesman
Big
Loud and firm;
A big voice
Big bold piano sounds
Great
Of major significance or importance;
A great work of art
Einstein was one of the outstanding figures of the 20th century
Big
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Great
Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;
A great crisis
Had a great stake in the outcome
Big
Marked by intense physical force;
A big wind
Great
Very good;
He did a bully job
A neat sports car
Had a great time at the party
You look simply smashing
Big
Feeling self-importance;
Too big for his britches
Had a swelled head
He was swelled with pride
Great
Uppercase;
Capital A
Great A
Many medieval manuscripts are in majuscule script
Big
Older brother or sister;
Big sister
Great
Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;
An avid sports fan
A great walker
An eager beaver
Big
Exhibiting self-importance;
Big talk
Great
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Big
Generous and understanding and tolerant;
A heart big enough to hold no grudges
That's very big of you to be so forgiving
A large and generous spirit
A large heart
Magnanimous toward his enemies
Big
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
Big
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Big
Extremely well;
His performance went over big
Big
In a boastful manner;
He talked big all evening
Big
On a grand scale;
Think big
Big
In a major way;
The play failed big at the box office
Common Curiosities
Can "big" and "great" be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but their nuances can alter the message's emphasis.
How is "big" used in informal language?
To denote popularity or trendiness.
Can "big" imply importance?
Yes, but it primarily refers to size or scale.
Is "great" always about size?
No, it primarily conveys quality or significance.
Can "big" denote intensity?
Yes, as in "a big disappointment."
How does "big" primarily differ from "great"?
"Big" emphasizes size, while "great" denotes excellence.
Does "great" carry a positive connotation?
Generally, it suggests superiority or high quality.
What does "a great distance" imply?
A large extent or scope, not just physical size.
Is "great" used in historical contexts?
Yes, to describe notable figures or periods.
How does the use of "great" in everyday language differ from its historical use?
In casual conversation, it often expresses satisfaction or enthusiasm.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
