grand
1 of 2adjective
ˈgrand 
1
a
: having more importance than others : foremost
b
: having higher rank than others bearing the same general designation
the grand champion
2
a
: inclusive, comprehensive
the grand total of all money paid out
b
: definitive, incontrovertible
grand example
3
: chief, principal
the grand ballroom
4
: large and striking in size, scope, extent, or conception
grand design
5
a
: lavish, sumptuous
a grand celebration
b
: marked by a regal form and dignity
c
: fine or imposing in appearance or impression
sported a grand mustache
d
: lofty, sublime
writing in the grand style
6
a
: pretending to social superiority : supercilious
b
: intended to impress
a person of grand gestures
7
: very good : wonderful
a grand time
grandly
ˈgran(d)-lē
adverb grandness
ˈgran(d)-nəs
noun grand
2 of 2noun
1
: grand piano
2
plural grand, slang : a thousand dollars
Synonyms
Adjective
- august
- baronial
- epic
- gallant
- glorious
- grandiose
- heroic
- heroical
- Homeric
- imperial
- imposing
- magnific
- magnificent
- majestic
- massive
- monumental
- noble
- proud
- regal
- royal
- splendid
- stately
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective He thinks everything the government does is part of some grand conspiracy. the beauty of nature's grand design The neighborhood includes many grand old homes. His job is much less grand than his title makes it sound. My great aunt lived to the grand old age of 103. Despite its grand name, the hotel is small and somewhat seedy. He made some grand statements about the company's future. They celebrated their anniversary in grand style. He planned to make a grand entrance, driving up to the house in a fancy red sports car. We won the grand prize. Noun He bought a used car for about five grand. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Who Remains form, as played by Jonathan Majors) in Loki , the grand return of Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin in Hawkeye, and just our official mutant in Ms. Marvel. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 8 Sep. 2022 No matter how many bags of cement are needed to build rocket landing pads, space-strength buildings, and stable housing on the moon, that number is simply too grand to haul up from Earth. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2022 None are more grand than the former summer getaway of the Vanderbilt family. Rachel King, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2022 These are pretty grand and really highfalutin people. Simon Thompson, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The small building in a section of Northeast Portland isn’t grand, so many people fail to appreciate the significance of Dean’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop. oregonlive, 22 July 2022 Although much smaller than Elysian, the views are just as grand. Matt Pawlik, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 His films are grand in scope, enigmatic in meaning and rarely boring. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2022 Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 1 July 2022 As many as 1,500 civilians had been taking refuge in the grand, columned Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in central Mariupol when it was struck on March 16, according to the Ukrainian government. Bymorgan Winsor, ABC News, 30 June 2022 For days, the Mariupol government was unable to give a casualty count for the March 16 bombardment of the grand, columned Mariupol Drama Theater, where hundreds of people were said to be taking cover. Andrea Rosa, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Mar. 2022 Hundreds of civilians had been living in the grand, columned theater in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the strategic port city. Andrea Rosa, chicagotribune.com, 17 Mar. 2022 Diana Belka, 74, a piano teacher for five decades, is the donor of the mahogany 6-foot grand that ended up with the Lewis family. Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2021 School officials were hoping for 20,000 people — 20 times more than normal — to show up to stress test the building in anticipation for the Sept. 3 grand opening against Arizona. San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Few places can equal the Hollywood pedigree of this Mid City spot, occupying a grand, Mission-style space built for Charlie Chaplin in 1928. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 Tolkien's grand, Atlantis-like kingdom has never before been depicted on screen, and Avery found inspiration in great civilizations of the past, designing the city's looming marble structures to feel almost Grecian or Venetian. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 19 July 2022 See More
Adjective
In a grand return to her vibrant ensembles, Williams opted for an all-pink outfit on day two of the 2004 French Open. Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 Who Remains form, as played by Jonathan Majors) in Loki , the grand return of Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin in Hawkeye, and just our official mutant in Ms. Marvel. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 8 Sep. 2022 No matter how many bags of cement are needed to build rocket landing pads, space-strength buildings, and stable housing on the moon, that number is simply too grand to haul up from Earth. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2022 None are more grand than the former summer getaway of the Vanderbilt family. Rachel King, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2022 These are pretty grand and really highfalutin people. Simon Thompson, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 The small building in a section of Northeast Portland isn’t grand, so many people fail to appreciate the significance of Dean’s Beauty Salon and Barber Shop. oregonlive, 22 July 2022 Although much smaller than Elysian, the views are just as grand. Matt Pawlik, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 His films are grand in scope, enigmatic in meaning and rarely boring. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2022 Noun
The late singer's granddaughter, Riley Keough, reportedly wept when seeing Elvis' version of the iconoclast grand. Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 1 July 2022 As many as 1,500 civilians had been taking refuge in the grand, columned Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in central Mariupol when it was struck on March 16, according to the Ukrainian government. Bymorgan Winsor, ABC News, 30 June 2022 For days, the Mariupol government was unable to give a casualty count for the March 16 bombardment of the grand, columned Mariupol Drama Theater, where hundreds of people were said to be taking cover. Andrea Rosa, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Mar. 2022 Hundreds of civilians had been living in the grand, columned theater in central Mariupol after their homes were destroyed in three weeks of fighting in the strategic port city. Andrea Rosa, chicagotribune.com, 17 Mar. 2022 Diana Belka, 74, a piano teacher for five decades, is the donor of the mahogany 6-foot grand that ended up with the Lewis family. Washington Post, 4 Oct. 2021 School officials were hoping for 20,000 people — 20 times more than normal — to show up to stress test the building in anticipation for the Sept. 3 grand opening against Arizona. San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2022 Few places can equal the Hollywood pedigree of this Mid City spot, occupying a grand, Mission-style space built for Charlie Chaplin in 1928. Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 Tolkien's grand, Atlantis-like kingdom has never before been depicted on screen, and Avery found inspiration in great civilizations of the past, designing the city's looming marble structures to feel almost Grecian or Venetian. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 19 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Anglo-French grant, grand, large, great, grand, from Latin grandis
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing grand
Kids Definition
grand
adjective
ˈgrand
grander; grandest
1
: higher in rank than others : foremost
the grand prize
2
: great in size
3
: comprehensive, inclusive
a grand total
4
: impressive
a grand view
5
: very good
grand weather
Legal Definition
grand
adjective
: of, relating to, or being a crime involving the theft of money or property valued at over a set amount
convicted of grand embezzlement
see also grand larceny at larceny, grand theft at theft compare petty Geographical Definition
Grand
geographical name
1
river 260 miles (418 kilometers) long in southwestern Michigan flowing north and west into Lake Michigan
2
river 300 miles (483 kilometers) long in northwestern Missouri flowing southeast into the Missouri River
3
river 200 miles (322 kilometers) long in northern South Dakota flowing east into the Missouri River
4
the Colorado River from its source to its junction with the Green River in southeastern Utah —a former name
grand
adjective
1
as in magnificent
large and impressive in size, grandeur, extent, or conception the grand ceremonies that typically mark the opening of the Olympic Games Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- magnificent
- glorious
- epic
- majestic
- imposing
- monumental
- regal
- royal
- massive
- imperial
- colossal
- grandiose
- impressive
- proud
- splendid
- heroic
- baronial
- noble
- wonderful
- heroical
- stately
- lavish
- august
- gallant
- operatic
- luxurious
- cosmic
- formidable
- tremendous
- sublime
- remarkable
- marvelous
- extravagant
- stupendous
- gorgeous
- marvellous
- princely
- extraordinary
- wondrous
- monstrous
- terrific
- magnific
- superb
- awesome
- kingly
- prodigious
- Homeric
- palatial
- sumptuous
- cosmical
- opulent
- apocalyptic
- queenly
- resplendent
- celestial
- divine
- heavenly
- striking
- inflated
- lordly
- sensational
- prepossessing
- pompous
- splendiferous
- overblown
- redoubtable
- apocalyptical
- awful
- killer
- palatine
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modest
- humble
- ordinary
- unimposing
- unimpressive
- unheroic
- unprepossessing
- average
- common
- lowly
- sordid
- mediocre
- shabby
- petty
- trivial
- trifling
- abject
- meretricious
- puny
- paltry
- insignificant
- mean
- run-of-the-mill
- second-rate
- measly
2
as in main
coming before all others in importance won the grand prize Synonyms & Similar Words
- main
- greatest
- big
- highest
- primary
- dominant
- first
- foremost
- leading
- predominant
- supreme
- central
- key
- principal
- chief
- cardinal
- master
- great
- capital
- premier
- sovereign
- arch
- paramount
- prior
- overriding
- primal
- preeminent
- number one
- overbearing
- sovran
- distinguished
- major
- top
- illustrious
- eminent
- overmastering
- outstanding
- prestigious
- stellar
- numero uno
- momentous
- senior
- notable
- noble
- important
- noteworthy
- mighty
- star
- signal
- superior
- matchless
- No. 1
- incomparable
- influential
- celebrated
- significant
- famous
- high-level
- unparalleled
- famed
- unequaled
- renowned
- unsurpassed
- unequalled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- last
- least
- trivial
- minor
- slight
- insignificant
- unimportant
- trifling
- negligible
- secondary
- subordinate
- inconsequential
- inconsiderable
- inferior
- collateral
- subsidiary
3
as in whole
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it the grand total comes to $350 Synonyms & Similar Words
- whole
- entire
- complete
- total
- full
- perfect
- comprehensive
- compleat
- plenary
- integral
- intact
- extensive
- maximal
- exhaustive
- full-scale
- unabridged
- undiminished
- uncut
- full-blown
- all-out
- full-fledged
- full-on
- full-out
- full-bore
- full-blooded
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- partial
- incomplete
- imperfect
- cut
- reduced
- diminished
- abbreviated
- abridged
4
as in large
of a size greater than average of its kind in the grand ring of the three-ring circus stood the lion tamer himself Synonyms & Similar Words
- large
- big
- substantial
- sizable
- considerable
- great
- handsome
- huge
- tidy
- colossal
- gigantic
- oversize
- massive
- extravagant
- enormous
- staggering
- vast
- excessive
- tremendous
- hulking
- oversized
- mammoth
- hefty
- outsize
- voluminous
- goodly
- husky
- monumental
- spacious
- bulky
- boxcar
- astronomical
- sizeable
- largish
- immense
- titanic
- stupendous
- cosmic
- outsized
- ample
- major
- gargantuan
- super
- biggish
- humongous
- elephantine
- galactic
- heroic
- cavernous
- astronomic
- monstrous
- monolithic
- mountainous
- prodigious
- jumbo
- whopping
- leviathan
- cyclopean
- pharaonic
- walloping
- heroical
- exorbitant
- herculean
- whacking
- humungous
- bumper
- gross
- extreme
- supersized
- cosmical
- appreciable
- super-duper
- king-sized
- inordinate
- vasty
- copious
- plentiful
- abundant
- immoderate
- thick
- Brobdingnagian
- commodious
- Bunyanesque
- roomy
- capacious
- king-size
- hellacious
- Himalayan
- fat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- small
- little
- dinky
- smallish
- puny
- dwarfish
- dwarf
- miniature
- tiny
- mini
- shrimpy
- microscopic
- wee
- diminutive
- bantam
- undersize
- minuscule
- infinitesimal
- undersized
- teeny
- minute
- teensy
- microscopical
- petite
- little bitty
- pygmy
- slender
- slight
- pint-sized
- pint-size
- thin
- Lilliputian
- microminiature
- pocket-size
- slim
- pocket-sized
- teeny-weeny
- half-pint
- teensy-weensy
5
as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station everyone wanted to be seen with Palm Beach society's grand dame Synonyms & Similar Words
- aristocratic
- noble
- great
- royal
- highbred
- patrician
- genteel
- wellborn
- gentle
- regal
- highborn
- lofty
- upper-crust
- princely
- blue-blooded
- silk-stocking
- exalted
- upper-class
- superior
- kingly
- queenly
- high
- knightly
- senior
- lordly
- gentlemanly
- ennobled
- elevated
- ladylike
- high-level
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- common
- humble
- ignoble
- plebeian
- low
- lowly
- mean
- ordinary
- inferior
- plain
- knavish
- bastard
- nonaristocratic
- illegitimate
- ungenteel
- baseborn
- junior
- lower-class
- subordinate
- degraded
- abased
6
as in wonderful
of the very best kind that picnic in the mountains was simply grand Synonyms & Similar Words
- wonderful
- beautiful
- great
- lovely
- terrific
- excellent
- fabulous
- stellar
- superb
- awesome
- fantastic
- prime
- marvelous
- fine
- classic
- marvellous
- heavenly
- quality
- famous
- splendid
- prize
- divine
- sensational
- neat
- hot
- noble
- cool
- brave
- immense
- top
- capital
- superlative
- sterling
- slick
- choice
- superior
- banner
- cracking
- dynamite
- dandy
- exceptional
- prizewinning
- swell
- corking
- good
- too much
- peachy
- primo
- crackerjack
- fab
- supernal
- brag
- groovy
- nifty
- par excellence
- topflight
- bumper
- boffo
- topping
- radical
- unsurpassed
- mean
- number one
- phat
- bonny
- gangbuster
- frontline
- decent
- boss
- righteous
- wizard
- high-class
- gangbusters
- gone
- hype
- dope
- special
- first-class
- bully
- bang-up
- keen
- five-star
- numero uno
- down
- fantabulous
- blue-ribbon
- top-of-the-line
- first-rate
- better
- tip-top
- blue-chip
- four-star
- adequate
- out of this world
- top-shelf
- satisfactory
- gilt-edged
- traditional
- gilt-edge
- classical
- peachy keen
- bonnie
- first-string
- top-notch
- all right
- out-of-sight
- fancy
- acceptable
- jim-dandy
- premium
- standard
- A-OK
- passable
- tolerable
- select
- A1
- No. 1
- superfine
- okay
- OK
- high-grade
- high-test
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- terrible
- pathetic
- vile
- awful
- wretched
- poor
- rotten
- lousy
- atrocious
- execrable
- bad
- inferior
- middling
- unsatisfactory
- substandard
- mediocre
- low-grade
- second-rate
- second-class
7
as in gigantic
unusually large before them lay a grand treeless plain that stretched as far as the eye could see Synonyms & Similar Words
- gigantic
- huge
- vast
- colossal
- giant
- massive
- monumental
- enormous
- mammoth
- tremendous
- astronomical
- titanic
- big
- immense
- bumper
- monstrous
- mighty
- mega
- monster
- astronomic
- mountainous
- cosmic
- heroic
- great
- oceanic
- planetary
- sizable
- gargantuan
- super
- galactic
- humongous
- elephantine
- majestic
- prodigious
- oversize
- jumbo
- whopping
- leviathan
- cyclopean
- heroical
- pharaonic
- herculean
- substantial
- walloping
- grandiose
- good
- whacking
- handsome
- imposing
- humungous
- supersized
- cosmical
- major
- oversized
- gigantesque
- considerable
- super-duper
- staggering
- king-sized
- supersize
- formidable
- Brobdingnagian
- hulking
- king-size
- lofty
- infinite
- extensive
- stupendous
- hefty
- vasty
- gross
- outsize
- towering
- goodly
- Himalayan
- tidy
- august
- voluminous
- cavernous
- bulky
- monolithic
- overwhelming
- sizeable
- overgrown
- outsized
- largish
- boundless
- immeasurable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- miniature
- tiny
- microscopic
- micro
- wee
- diminutive
- small
- pocket
- minuscule
- infinitesimal
- mini
- little
- teeny
- bitty
- minute
- teensy
- microscopical
- midget
- petite
- little bitty
- puny
- smallish
- pygmy
- bantam
- dinky
- Lilliputian
- microminiature
- dwarfish
- teeny-weeny
- undersize
- teensy-weensy
- undersized
- pint-sized
- pint-size
- half-pint
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of grand are grandiose, imposing, magnificent, majestic, and stately. While all these words mean "large and impressive," grand adds to greatness of size the implications of handsomeness and dignity.
a grand staircase
In some situations, the words grandiose and grand are roughly equivalent. However, grandiose implies a size or scope exceeding ordinary experience, but is most commonly applied derogatorily to inflated pretension or absurd exaggeration.
grandiose hydroelectric projects
grandiose schemes
The meanings of imposing and grand largely overlap; however, imposing implies great size and dignity but especially stresses impressiveness.
an imposing edifice
The words magnificent and grand can be used in similar contexts, but magnificent implies an impressive largeness proportionate to scale without sacrifice of dignity or good taste.
magnificent paintings
Majestic combines the implications of imposing and stately and usually adds a suggestion of solemn grandeur.
a majestic waterfall
While the synonyms stately and grand are close in meaning, stately may suggest poised dignity, erectness of bearing, handsomeness of proportions, ceremonious deliberation of movement.
the stately procession