Big vs. Massive — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
Big refers to a considerable size or extent, commonly used in everyday language, while massive implies an exceptionally large scale, often used to denote overwhelming size or bulk.
Difference Between Big and Massive
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Big is a general adjective that describes something of considerable size, whether it's an object, idea, or event. It's versatile and frequently used in casual and formal contexts alike. On the other hand, massive specifically connotes something extraordinarily large or heavy, often suggesting a degree of grandeur or overpowering impact.
Big often pertains to both physical and abstract concepts, allowing it to be applied in diverse contexts such as "big ideas" or "big changes." Whereas massive is typically reserved for physical descriptions, emphasizing substantial volume or area, like "massive structure" or "massive amount."
In everyday usage, big can describe something slightly larger than average or approaching large. Conversely, massive is almost exclusively used when the size or extent is notably beyond the usual or expected, implying something notably substantial or formidable.
Big is less intense and can sometimes just mean noticeable but not necessarily overwhelming. Massive, however, carries a weight of extremity and can denote something that is not only big but also dense, heavy, or voluminously expansive.
While big can be used subjectively to indicate significance or impact, such as in "big win," massive is often objective, highlighting the undeniable physical magnitude, as seen in phrases like "massive earthquake."
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Comparison Chart
Scope
Large but not extreme
Extremely large, often extreme
Usage
Versatile, both abstract and physical
Primarily physical
Intensity
Moderate
High
Connotation
Noticeable size or importance
Overwhelming size or bulk
Common Phrases
Big opportunity, big mistake
Massive structure, massive impact
Compare with Definitions
Big
Generous or magnanimous.
He's big on giving back to the community.
Massive
Extremely solid or robust.
The fortress walls are massive and impenetrable.
Big
Large in size.
She moved to a bigger apartment.
Massive
Overwhelming or very great.
She felt a massive sense of relief.
Big
Considerable in scale or intensity.
He played a big role in the project.
Massive
Very large or heavy.
They used a massive crane for the construction.
Big
Important or significant.
Today is a big day for us.
Massive
Large in scale or scope.
The project requires massive funding.
Big
Mature or grown up.
My children are getting big so fast.
Massive
Very successful or influential.
The film was a massive hit worldwide.
Big
Of considerable size or extent
Big staff cuts
Big buildings
Her big hazel eyes
Massive
Consisting of or making up a large mass; bulky, heavy, and solid
A massive piece of furniture.
Big
Of considerable importance or seriousness
It's a big decision
His biggest problem is money
He made a big mistake
Massive
(Physics) Having relatively high mass
A massive particle.
Big
Generous
‘I'm inclined to take pity on you.’ ‘That's big of you!’
Massive
Large or imposing, as in quantity, scope, degree, intensity, or scale
"Local defense must be reinforced by the further deterrent of massive retaliatory power" (John Foster Dulles).
Big
Praise or recommend something highly
The record's been on the streets a while now, but it's still worth bigging up
Massive
Large in comparison with the usual amount
A massive dose of a drug.
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
Massive
Affecting a large area of bodily tissue; widespread and severe
Massive gangrene.
Big
Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large.
Massive
(Mineralogy) Lacking internal crystalline structure; amorphous.
Big
Having great strength or force
A big wind.
In a big rage.
Massive
(Geology) Without internal structure or layers and homogeneous in composition. Used of a rock.
Big
Of great significance; momentous
A big decision.
A big victory.
Massive
Very large in size or extent.
Compared to its counterparts from World War II, the Abrams main battle tank is truly massive.
The enlightenment comprises massive shifts in many areas of Western thought.
Big
Mature or grown-up
Big enough to take the bus by herself.
Massive
Very large or bulky and heavy and solid.
A massive comet or asteroid appears to have ended the era of the dinosaurs.
Big
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling
My big brother is leaving for college next week.
Massive
(informal) To a very great extent; total, utter.
Big
Filled up; brimming over
Felt big with love.
Massive
(colloquial) Of particularly exceptional quality or value; awesome.
Did you see Colbert last night? He was massive!
Big
Bountiful; generous
Had a big heart.
Massive
Outstanding, beautiful.
Your dress is massive, love. Where did you get it?
Big
Pregnant
Big with child.
Massive
(medicine) Affecting a large portion of the body, or severe.
A massive heart attack
Big
Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence
A big official.
A big chief.
Massive
(physics) Having a large mass.
Big
Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent
A big figure in the peace movement.
Massive
Having any mass.
Some bosons are massive while others are massless.
Big
Loud and firm; resounding
A big voice.
Massive
(geology) Homogeneous, unstructured.
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).
Massive
(mineralogy) Not having an obvious crystalline structure.
Big
(Informal) Self-important; cocky
You're too big for your own good.
Massive
(mineralogy) A homogeneous mass of rock, not layered and without an obvious crystal structure.
Karst massives in western Georgia
Big
In a pretentious or boastful way
Talked big about the new job.
Massive
A group of people from a locality, or sharing a collective aim, interest, etc.
Big up to the Croydon massive!
Big
With considerable success
Made it big with their recent best-selling album.
Massive
Forming, or consisting of, a large mass; compacted; weighty; heavy; massy.
Big
In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically
Failed big at the box office.
Massive
In mass; not necessarily without a crystalline structure, but having no regular form; as, a mineral occurs massive.
Big
Of great size, large.
Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.
Massive
Imposing in size or bulk or solidity;
Massive oak doors
Moore's massive sculptures
The monolithic proportions of Stalinist architecture
A monumental scale
Big
(informal) Fat.
Gosh, she is big!
Massive
Being the same substance throughout;
Massive silver
Big
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
Massive
Imposing in scale or scope or degree or power;
Massive retaliatory power
A massive increase in oil prices
Massive changes
Big
Old, mature. Used to imply that somebody is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
Massive
Consisting of great mass; containing a great quantity of matter;
Earth is the most massive of the terrestrial planets
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.
Big
(informal) Important or significant.
What's so big about that? I do it all the time.
Big
Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Big
(of a city) Populous.
Big
(informal) Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns
You are a big liar.
Why are you in such a big hurry?
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)
Big
Enthusiastic (about).
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Big
In a loud manner.
Big
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
Big
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
Big
On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
Big
Hard.
He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.
Big
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
Big
(in the plural) The big leagues, big time.
Big
(university slang) A initiated member of a sorority who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
Big
(BDSM) The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Big
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
Big
To inhabit; occupy.
Big
To locate oneself.
Big
To build; erect; fashion.
Big
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Big
Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
Big
Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; - often figuratively.
[Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome.
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.
Big
Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg."
Big
To build.
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
Big
Significant;
Graduation was a big day in his life
Big
Of very great significance;
Deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decision
A momentous event
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
Big
Very intense;
A bad headache
In a big rage
Had a big (or bad) shock
A bad earthquake
A bad storm
Big
Loud and firm;
A big voice
Big bold piano sounds
Big
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Big
Marked by intense physical force;
A big wind
Big
Feeling self-importance;
Too big for his britches
Had a swelled head
He was swelled with pride
Big
Older brother or sister;
Big sister
Big
Exhibiting self-importance;
Big talk
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
What contexts are suitable for using "big"?
"Big" is suitable in both casual and formal contexts, describing size or importance.
When should "massive" be used instead of "big"?
Use "massive" to describe something extremely large or overwhelming, especially in physical contexts.
What type of emphasis does "big" provide compared to "massive"?
"Big" generally indicates a notable but not extreme size, while "massive" indicates an extreme or significant scale.
Can "big" and "massive" be used interchangeably?
While they may sometimes overlap, "massive" is typically used to emphasize a greater scale or weight than "big."
Is "massive" a stronger term than "big"?
Yes, "massive" conveys a stronger, more intense scale of size or impact than "big."
How do "big" and "massive" differ in literary use?
"Big" is more common in everyday narrative, while "massive" is often used for dramatic emphasis.
Can "massive" be used for non-physical descriptions?
It's less common but can be used in contexts like "massive relief" or "massive influence."
What are examples of "big" used in abstract terms?
Examples include "big decision," "big ideas."
Does "big" imply positivity or negativity?
"Big" is neutral and can be used in both positive and negative contexts.
What synonyms can replace "big" or "massive"?
For "big," synonyms include large, substantial. For "massive," synonyms include enormous, gigantic.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
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.
