greatness

noun

great·​ness ˈgrāt-nəs 

: the quality or state of being great (as in size, skill, achievement, or power)

Today, many Inca buildings still stand—all witnesses to an empire of unforgettable greatness.

—Michelle Laliberte

An understanding of the visible world became a better way of understanding the greatness of God.

—Mario Salvadori

I came back convinced that bourbon and its cousins are America's contribution to world distillery, with as strong a claim to greatness as anything from Scotland, Ireland, or Canada.

—Corby Kummer

… young team that came within a game of reaching the World Series, a team on the verge of greatness.

—Barry Rozner

Tyson, 33, has long since abandoned any claim to boxing greatness, having squandered his promise in two jail sentences, a suspension and several gory defeats.

—Richard Hoffer

Synonyms

• excellence
• excellency

Examples of greatness in a Sentence

a poet whose work is of enduring greatness

the overwhelming greatness of the canyon is what visitors first notice

Recent Examples on the Web

Their successes serve as reminders that while attaining greatness is impressive, delivering encore performances can be even more challenging, especially as competition continues to intensify. —Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025

Biles continues to defy limits and redefine greatness. —Okla Jones, Essence, 17 July 2025

All the greatness and positive things that came, far outweigh the dark and negative times. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 16 July 2025

To believe in Justin Bieber is to believe in the mythology of greatness; to root for his success is to root for a once-in-a-generation talent fulfilling his destiny. —Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 16 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing greatness

• the stuff of greatness

Rhymes for greatness

• lateness
• straightness