big
/bɪɡ/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Large in size, amount, or number. It can also mean important or serious.
- That is a big house.
- She made a big mistake.
- We have a big project this week.
Adinary Nuance
Big is very common and broad. It is less exact than large, huge, or great. Use big in everyday speech; use large in more formal writing or to sound more precise.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- to lớn
- Spanish
- grande
- Chinese
- 大的
- Japanese
- 大きい
- Korean
- 큰
Etymology
Big has uncertain origins in English. It became common in Middle English, around the 1300s, and later developed many everyday uses.
Common phrases
big dealbig problembig changebig business
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is big formal or informal?
- Big is mostly informal and very common in speech. In formal writing, large or significant may sound better.
- What is the difference between big and large?
- Big is more general and natural in everyday English. Large often sounds a little more formal or exact.
- Can big mean important?
- Yes. A big decision, big issue, or big day means something important or serious.
- Is big used in business English?
- Yes, but it is often too casual for reports. Writers often choose large, major, or significant instead.