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

• choiceness
• distinction
• excellence
• excellency
• first-rateness
• perfection
• preeminence
• primeness
• superbness
• superiority
• supremacy

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

His wisdom creates a roadmap for leaders, educators, coaches, and professionals aiming to disrupt conventional standards en route to greatness. —Forbes Press Releases, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Like Mama Josephine, George Levitan also saw greatness in Pringle. —Sara Pezzoni, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Jan. 2025

True greatness could take time to achieve, especially after Sasaki battled shoulder fatigue and a slight drop in fastball velocity last season. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025

Here’s a handy rule of thumb: Our first question should be: Did this guy have a claim to historic greatness? —Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing greatness

• the stuff of greatness