big 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbig How to pronounce big (audio)
Definition of bignext
1
as in major
having great meaning or lasting effect there will be a big meeting to resolve the issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind bought a big apple to quench his raging appetite

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in great
having, characterized by, or arising from a dignified and generous nature how big of you to give your subordinates most of the credit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rich
having an abundance of some characteristic quality (as flavor) inexperienced wine drinkers should not start with such a big wine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in main
coming before all others in importance the big story that year was the election of the president

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in fashionable
enjoying widespread favor or approval jackets with very wide lapels were big that year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in pregnant
containing unborn young within the body a mare big with a foal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

big

2 of 2

noun

1
as in heavy
one of high position or importance within a group with that new promotion he's now one of the bigs in the company

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in major league
usually bigs plural the highest level of a field of endeavor a candidate who is running for president is playing in the bigs and cannot afford to make major mistakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a big deal
an important deal
a huge deal
a major deal
an enormous deal
a big city
a huge city
a major city
a massive city
a giant city
a sizable city
a big game
an important game
a huge game
a monumental game
a critical game
a big problem
a major problem
a serious problem
a huge problem
a tremendous problem
a humongous problem
a big mistake
a complete mistake
a total mistake
a huge mistake
a major mistake
a large mistake

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of big
Adjective
When that big call came in, that's that call that all those stars talk about that changed their life and stuff. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2025 The field of medicine has undergone significant changes since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the biggest breakthrough right at our fingertips: telemedicine. —Felicia Faber, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Noun
Three Gators guards, including SEC Tournament MVP Walter Clayton Jr., are legit threats offensively, and Florida also boasts four tough bigs that can wear out even the most physical opponents (just ask Alabama and Tennessee). —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 At one point early in the first quarter, Ryles grabbed the jerseys of two of her teammates, her two bigs, and pulled them in close. —Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big
  1. major
  2. large
  3. great
  4. rich
  5. main
  6. fashionable
  7. pregnant
  8. heavy
Adjective
  • Eala, 19, booked her berth in the last four after knocking out five-time major champion and second seed Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, this year’s Australian Open winner Madison Keys in the third round and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round.
    — Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • South Carolina fires In South Carolina, the Table Rock Fire and the Persimmon Ridge Fire were the two major wildfires in the state.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of major
Adjective
  • In Flushing, long-time residents and small businesses are already feeling the pressure of real estate speculation and skyrocketing rents, with mom-and-pop bakeries and shops shutting their doors and being replaced by large chains.
    — Aimee Rosato, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
  • The Country Airplay list is Billboard’s largest radio-specific chart, tracking 60 songs each week.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of large
Adjective
  • This assignment begins with secondary and higher educational institutions taking greater strides to enrich offerings civics instruction.
    — Blake D. Morant, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Temu and Shein have taken steps to grow their operations in the U.S. as the de minimis loophole has come under greater scrutiny.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of great
Adjective
  • As winds churn up cold water off the Southern California coast, sediment rich in nutrients is swirled up from the ocean floor and becomes feed for smaller creatures in the water who are eaten by larger ones like pelicans, whales and all kinds of fish.
    — Stephanie Elam, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Louise insisted the show didn’t make the cast rich.
    — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of rich
Adjective
  • The president has touted these tariffs as a way to help the US government rely less on income taxes as a main form of revenue.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Sean Penn co-stars as the film’s main villain, a steely-eyed colonel who looked pretty frigging scary in the footage, while Benicio del Toro is DiCaprio’s gun-toting, gonzo comrade.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Whistler elongates the fashionable figures into letter openers, and life into a series of dinner invitations to be sliced open.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • For example, one of the male characters in the story named Dingley will wear two vests on top of one other, which Reynoso said was inspired by the early 2000s clothing trend when fashionable young men wore two layered Polo shirts with their collars popped up.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of fashionable
Adjective
  • The family posed for Christmas photos in matching red formal wear and themed elf onesies in 2023, when Alcala was pregnant with Alianna.
    — Nasha Smith, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • George’s wife-to-be Olivia is very pregnant with their son, Dhani.
    — Kaleb Horton, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of pregnant
Noun
  • They’re supposed to be the reinforcements, the heavies, personally recruited by Quinn — a fugitive Army Intelligence Colonel! — and installed at Beck’s place, just like Paulie.
    — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The other students find the burden of imperfect English heavy.
    — Jesse Green, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Definition of heavy

Phrases Containing big

Browse Nearby Words

bifurcations
big
bigamies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on big

Nglish: Translation of big for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular

See More

Words in Disguise: Do these seem familiar?

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

'When Pigs Fly' and Other Barnyard Idioms
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
kestrel
Name That Bird Quiz Are you as wise as an owl or just another birdbrain?
See All