great
/ɡɹeɪt/
noun/ɡɹeɪt/
/ɡɹeɪt/
Meaning
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Meaning 1 · noun
A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
“Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.”
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Meaning 2 · noun
The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
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Meaning 3 · noun
(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
“My three-greats grandmother.”
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Meaning 4 · adjective
Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.
“A great storm is approaching our shores.”
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Meaning 5 · adjective
Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.
“the great auk”
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Meaning 6 · adjective
(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]
“great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather”
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Meaning 7 · adjective
(followed by 'with') Pregnant; large with young; full of.
“great with child”
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Meaning 8 · adjective
(except with 'friend' and similar words such as 'mate','buddy') Intimate; familiar.
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Meaning 9 · adjective
Extreme or more than usual.
“great worry”
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Meaning 10 · adjective
Of significant importance or consequence; important.
“a great decision”
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Meaning 11 · adjective
(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.
“a great deed”
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Meaning 12 · adjective
Impressive or striking.
“a great show of wealth”
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Meaning 13 · adjective
Much in use; favoured.
“Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.”
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Meaning 14 · adjective
(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.
“a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.”
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Meaning 15 · adjective
Title referring to an important leader.
“Alexander the Great”
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Meaning 16 · adjective
Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.
“He's not a great one for reading.”
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Meaning 17 · adjective
(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.
“You are great at singing.”
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Meaning 18 · adjective
Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic (from 1848).
“Dinner was great.”
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Meaning 19 · adjective
Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.
“Great Scott!”
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Meaning 20 · adverb
Very well (in a very satisfactory manner).
“Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.”
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Meaning 21 · interjection
Expression of gladness and content about something.
“Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.”
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Meaning 22 · interjection
Sarcastic inversion thereof.
“Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.”
How this word is used
- Everyday “Newton and Einstein are two of the greats of the history of science.”
- General “My three-greats grandmother.”
- Everyday “A great storm is approaching our shores.”
- General “the great auk”
- General “great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather”
- General “great with child”
- General “great worry”
- General “a great decision”
- General “a great deed”
- General “a great show of wealth”
- General “Poetry was a great convention of the Romantic era.”
- General “a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, writer etc.”
- General “Alexander the Great”
- General “He's not a great one for reading.”
- General “You are great at singing.”
- General “Dinner was great.”
- General “Great Scott!”
- Everyday “Those mechanical colored pencils work great because they don't have to be sharpened.”
- Everyday “Great! Thanks for the wonderful work.”
- General “Oh, great! I just dumped all 500 sheets of the manuscript all over and now I have to put them back in order.”
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