big
big
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "big" is /bɪɡ/.
/bɪɡ/
Word Form Variations
Positive Adjective: big
Comparative Adjective: bigger
Superlative Adjective: biggest
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Of considerable size, extent, or intensity; large.
Synonyms: large, enormous, massive, huge, considerable, substantial, immense
Antonyms: small, little, tiny, minute, minuscule
Definition 2: Important, serious, or significant.
Synonyms: important, significant, crucial, major, serious, weighty
Antonyms: unimportant, insignificant, minor, trivial
Definition 3: (Informal) Generous or magnanimous.
Synonyms: generous, magnanimous, noble, benevolent, kind-hearted
Antonyms: stingy, mean, selfish, petty
Definition 4: (Of a person) Adult or grown-up.
Synonyms: adult, grown, mature, developed
Antonyms: young, small, little, child-like
Definition 5: (Of a sibling, usually "big brother" or "big sister") Older.
Synonyms: older, elder
Antonyms: younger, junior
Adverb
Definition 1: (Informal) In a loud or emphatic manner.
Example: He talked big about his accomplishments.
Synonyms: boastfully, loudly, emphatically
Antonyms: quietly, humbly
Noun
Definition 1: (Informal) An important or powerful person. Often used in the plural "bigs."
Synonyms: VIP, dignitary, heavyweight, big shot
Antonyms: nobody, commoner, unimportant person
Verb
Definition 1: (Transitive, informal, usually "big up") To promote or praise something or someone enthusiastically.
Synonyms: promote, praise, hype, endorse, extol
Antonyms: criticize, disparage, belittle, demote
Examples of Use
Books:
"It was a big house, even for a family as sprawling as the Weasleys, and Harry felt a familiar warmth as he stepped inside." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
"The Great Gatsby is a big American novel, a sprawling tale of love, illusion, and the Jazz Age." (Literary criticism discussing F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby)
Newspapers:
"The city council approved a big infrastructure project, aiming to ease traffic congestion in the downtown area." (Headline from The New York Times)
"Analysts are predicting a big year for renewable energy investments, citing increased government support and falling costs." (Article in The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Researchers made a big breakthrough in cancer treatment, identifying a new pathway for targeted therapies." (Article on ScienceDaily.com)
"This influencer has a big following on Instagram, with millions of users engaging with her daily content." (Article on TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "We're gonna need a bigger boat." (Line from Jaws, uttered by Roy Scheider's character, Brody)
Television: "The Big Bang Theory" (Title of a popular American sitcom)
Music: "I like big butts and I cannot lie." (Lyric from Sir Mix-A-Lot's song "Baby Got Back")
Video Games: "The open world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is incredibly big, offering hundreds of hours of exploration and quests." (Review of Red Dead Redemption 2 on IGN.com)
Podcasts: "Today on our podcast, we're taking on a big topic: the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on society." (Introduction to a podcast episode)
General Public Discourse:
"That was a big mistake, and I've learned my lesson." (Spoken by an individual admitting an error)
"He's a pretty big deal in the tech world; everyone knows his name." (Describing an influential person)
"We're planning a big party for her birthday next month." (Referring to an upcoming celebration)
"Don't make a big fuss over it; it's really not that serious." (Advising someone not to overreact)
10 Famous Quotes Using Big
"We're gonna need a bigger boat." (Chief Brody, Jaws)
"Go big or go home." (Often attributed to entrepreneurs or athletes, popularized in various contexts)
"The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." (Often paraphrased as "The big price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it." - Henry David Thoreau)
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." (Often attributed to Wayne Gretzky, though sometimes credited to his father or a marketing slogan for Nike; the "big shot" implication is clear)
"It's a big world out there." (Common idiomatic expression)
"He who has a 'why' to live for can bear almost any 'how'." (Often paraphrased to emphasize the "big why" - Friedrich Nietzsche)
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." (Often used in contexts of overcoming "big" emotional challenges - Dr. Seuss)
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." (Neil Armstrong; "giant" here is a strong synonym for "big")
"The best way to predict the future is to create it." (Often attributed to Peter Drucker or Abraham Lincoln; implies taking "big" actions)
"If you can dream it, you can do it." (Often attributed to Walt Disney; implies aiming for "big" goals)
Etymology
The word "big" has a bit of a mysterious past, but here's the simplest explanation:
It first popped up in English around the Middle English period (roughly 1150-1500 AD). The earliest known use is around 1300, specifically in a text called "Havelok."
When it first appeared, "big" wasn't primarily about physical size like it is today. Its original meaning was closer to "powerful," "strong," or "sturdy," especially when talking about people or animals. Think of someone who was "big" in a fight – it meant they were tough and strong, not necessarily large in stature.
Where it came from is a bit less certain. Many language experts believe it likely has roots in Old Norse, which was spoken by the Vikings who settled in parts of England. They point to similar words in Scandinavian languages, like a Norwegian dialect word "bugge" which meant "a great man" or "important man."
So, while today we mostly use "big" to describe how large something is, its original sense was more about strength and importance. The meaning of "great size" started to become common a bit later, around the late 14th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Big
Big break: A significant opportunity.
Big picture: The overall perspective or goal.
Big deal: Something of great importance (often used sarcastically to mean the opposite).
Big shot: An important or influential person.
Big talk: Boastful or exaggerated claims.
Big cheese: (Informal) An important person, a leader.
Big wig: (Informal) An important or powerful person.
Big spender: Someone who spends a lot of money.
Big game hunter: Someone who hunts large wild animals.
Big fish in a small pond: An important person in a small group or community.
To make it big: To achieve great success.
Too big for one's britches: Acting arrogantly or as if one is more important than they are.
Talk a big game: To boast or make grand claims without necessarily being able to deliver.
Lay it on thick/heavy: (Using a synonym, "heavy" for "big") To exaggerate or overdo something.
A giant leap: (Using a synonym, "giant" for "big") A very significant advance or improvement.
To have a large heart: (Using a synonym, "large" for "big") To be kind and generous.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of big from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.