great

adjective

UK /ɡreɪt/

Word Forms

adjective	great
comparative	greater
superlative	greatest

1
bigger or more than is usual
She had great difficulty in guessing where I was from.
They could be in great danger.
He was in a great hurry.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome our next guest.
This is a great opportunity to raise a lot of money.
Synonyms and related words
Large in size
large
big
high
1. 1a
  only before nounspokenused for emphasizing the physical size of something or someone
  They dug this whacking great hole.
  great big:
  a great big piece of chocolate
  Synonyms and related words
  Large in size
  large
  big
  high
2. 1b
  used for emphasizing a large number of people or things
  Shakespeare wrote a great many plays.
  The great majority disagree.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe large amounts and quantities
  substantial
  considerable
  extensive
3. 1c
  mainly literaryvery large and impressive
  the great river
  a great feast
  Synonyms and related words
  Large in size
  large
  big
  high
  Synonyms and related words
  Deserving praise, respect and admiration
  respected
  praiseworthy
  heroic
4. 1d
  used in the names of buildings, rooms, or features of geography that are very large and impressive
  the castle’s great hall
  the Great Barrier Reef
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used in the names of buildings
  centre
  Court
  great
5. 1e
  used in the names of birds or animals that are larger than related birds or animals
  the great white shark
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe birds
  common
  fledged
  flightless
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe animals
  amphibious
  androgynous
  anthropoid
See alsodeal
2
important or powerful
a great military power
Synonyms and related words
Powerful
powerful
influential
formidable
Synonyms and related words
Important
important
major
key
1. 2a
  used about an event or situation that affects a lot of people or a large area
  the greatest environmental disaster in decades
  a great healthcare crisis
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used for saying that something is important
  essentially
  importantly
  basically
2. 2b
  used in the names of important events in history
  the Great Depression of the 1930s
  the Great Fire of London of 1666
  Synonyms and related words
  Related to history and the past
  historical
  early
  date back to
3. 2c
  used about someone famous or important who is admired by a lot of people, or about their work
  one of the greatest writers of the modern age
  a great work of art
  Synonyms and related words
  Famous and well-known
  famous
  well-known
  celebrated
  Synonyms and related words
  Deserving praise, respect and admiration
  respected
  praiseworthy
  heroic
4. 2d
  informalused for emphasizing the most important feature of something
  The really great thing about this computer is its speed.
  The great advantage is that this place is so near to town.
  Synonyms and related words
  Most important
  main
  basic
  primary
3
informalenthusiastic about something or someone
I’m your greatest admirer.
a great football fan
a great talker/walker/reader etc:
She’s a great reader of biographies.
be a great one for (=be enthusiastic about):
I’ve never been a great one for spiders and snakes.
Synonyms and related words
Enthusiastic
enthusiastic
keen
eager
4
informalable to do something very well
He’s a great guitarist.
great at:
She’s great at maths.
Synonyms and related words
Skilful and able
able
capable
professional
1. 4a
  able to deal with certain people very well
  Isn’t she great with the children?
  Synonyms and related words
  Skilful and able
  able
  capable
  professional
5
mainly spokenused for expressing pleasure or agreement
It’s great to be here.
I think it’s great he’s got a girlfriend.
Great! I’ll pick you up at eight, then.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of agreeing with someone
OK
of course
no
Synonyms and related words
Ways of expressing pleasure and excitement
ooh
great
it’s a pleasure to do something
6
informalvery good, enjoyable, or attractive
This cake tastes great.
We had a great day.
You looked great in that outfit.
This is a great place for families.
Synonyms and related words
Pleasant, enjoyable and relaxing
pleasant
enjoyable
relaxing
Synonyms and related words
Very good
great
select
terrific
1. 6a
  used for saying that something that you expected to be good, enjoyable etc is not
  That’s just great! Now I’ll have do it all over again.
  Synonyms and related words
  Not pleasant and enjoyable
  unpleasant
  bad
  awful
2. 6b
  used about someone who is nice and a pleasure to be with
  He’s a great guy.
  a great friend
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe someone’s personality
  adaptive
  addictive
  a leopard can’t change its spots

phrases

great with child

great

adjective

US /ɡreɪt/

Word Forms

adjective	great
comparative	greater
superlative	greatest

1
informalvery good, enjoyable, or attractive
This cake tastes great.
We had a great day.
You looked great in that outfit.
This is a great place for families.
Synonyms and related words
Pleasant, enjoyable and relaxing
pleasant
enjoyable
relaxing
Synonyms and related words
Very good
great
select
terrific
1. 1a
  used about someone who is nice and a pleasure to be with
  He’s a great guy.
  a great friend
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe someone’s personality
  adaptive
  addictive
  a man of something
2. 1b
  used for saying that something that you expected to be good, enjoyable, etc. is not
  That’s just great! Now I’ll have do it all over again.
  Synonyms and related words
  Not pleasant and enjoyable
  unpleasant
  bad
  awful
2
bigger or more than is usual
She had great difficulty in guessing where I was from.
They could be in great danger.
He was in a great hurry.
It gives me great pleasure to welcome our next guest.
This is a great opportunity to raise a lot of money.
Synonyms and related words
Large in size
large
big
high
1. 2a
  only before nounspokenused for emphasizing the physical size of something or someone
  great big:
  a great big piece of chocolate
  Synonyms and related words
  Large in size
  large
  big
  high
2. 2b
  used for emphasizing a large number of people or things
  Shakespeare wrote a great many plays.
  The great majority disagree.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe large amounts and quantities
  substantial
  considerable
  extensive
3. 2c
  mainly literaryvery large and impressive
  the great river
  a great feast
  Synonyms and related words
  Large in size
  large
  big
  high
  Synonyms and related words
  Deserving praise, respect and admiration
  respected
  praiseworthy
  heroic
4. 2d
  used in the names of buildings, rooms, or features of geography that are very large and impressive
  the castle’s great hall
  the Great Barrier Reef
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used in the names of buildings
  Court
  great
  hall
5. 2e
  used in the names of birds or animals that are larger than related birds or animals
  the great white shark
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe birds
  common
  crested
  fledged
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe animals
  amphibious
  androgynous
  anthropoid
See alsodeal
3
important or powerful
a great military power
Synonyms and related words
Powerful
powerful
influential
formidable
Synonyms and related words
Important
important
major
key
1. 3a
  used about an event or situation that affects a lot of people or a large area
  the greatest environmental disaster in decades
  a great healthcare crisis
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used for saying that something is important
  essentially
  importantly
  basically
2. 3b
  used in the names of important events in history
  the Great Depression of the 1930s
  Synonyms and related words
  Related to history and the past
  historical
  early
  date back to
3. 3c
  used about someone famous or important who is admired by a lot of people, or about their work
  one of the greatest writers of the modern age
  a great work of art
  Synonyms and related words
  Famous and well-known
  famous
  well-known
  celebrated
  Synonyms and related words
  Deserving praise, respect and admiration
  respected
  praiseworthy
  heroic
4. 3d
  informalused for emphasizing the most important feature of something
  The really great thing about this computer is its speed.
  The great advantage is that this place is so close to town.
  Synonyms and related words
  Most important
  main
  basic
  primary
4
informalable to do something very well
He’s a great guitarist.
great at:
She’s great at math.
Synonyms and related words
Skillful and able
skillful
able
capable
1. 4a
  able to deal with certain people very well
  Isn’t she great with the children?
  Synonyms and related words
  Skillful and able
  skillful
  able
  capable
5
mainly spokenused for expressing pleasure or agreement
It’s great to be here.
I think it’s great that he has a girlfriend.
Great! I’ll pick you up at eight, then.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of agreeing with someone
OK
of course
yes
Synonyms and related words
Ways of expressing pleasure and excitement
ooh
great
it’s a pleasure to do something
6
informalenthusiastic about something or someone
I’m your greatest admirer.
a great football fan
a great talker/walker/reader etc.:
She’s a great reader of biographies.
be a great one for (=be enthusiastic about):
I’ve never been a great one for spiders and snakes.
Synonyms and related words
Enthusiastic
enthusiastic
keen
eager

phrases

great Scott/Heavens

great with child

great

adverbinformal

UK /ɡreɪt/

Word Forms

comparative	greater
superlative	greatest

1
very well
You’re doing great.
I don’t think we played great.
Things are really going great.
Synonyms and related words
Well and very well
well
ably
fantastically

great

adverbinformal

US /ɡreɪt/

Word Forms

comparative	greater
superlative	greatest

1
very well
You’re doing great.
I don’t think we played great.
Things are really going great.
Synonyms and related words
Well and very well
well
ably
great

great

noun countable

UK /ɡreɪt/

Word Forms

singular	great
plural	greats

1
usually pluralsomeone who is admired by a lot of people, especially someone famous
Fred Perry is one of the all-time greats of tennis.
Synonyms and related words
Famous people
face
national treasure
sleb
1. 1a
  something that is well known and admired by a lot of people
  an album of jazz greats
  Synonyms and related words
  Popularity or popular things and places
  popularity
  boom
  magnet
2

the Great
used after the name of an important person in history for showing that they had a lot of power or respect
Catherine the Great
Synonyms and related words
Important and powerful person or people
figure
magnate
VIP

phrases

the great and the good

great

noun countable

US /ɡreɪt/

Word Forms

singular	great
plural	greats

1
usually pluralsomeone who is admired by a lot of people, especially someone famous
Pete Sampras is one of the all-time greats of tennis.
Synonyms and related words
Famous people
face
national treasure
sleb
1. 1a
  something that is well known and admired by a lot of people
  an album of jazz greats
  Synonyms and related words
  Popularity or popular things and places
  popularity
  boom
  magnet
2

the Great
used after the name of an important person in history for showing that they had a lot of power or respect
Catherine the Great
Synonyms and related words
Important and powerful person or people
figure
magnate
VIP

great ​‌‌‌

great ​‌‌‌

great

great

great

the Great

great

the Great

great

great