Is "large" more formal than "big"?

Yes. "Large" sounds a little more formal and is common in writing.

Can I say "a large person"?

Yes, but it can sound careful or polite. "A big person" is more common in speech.

What is the difference between "large" and "huge"?

"Huge" means much bigger than "large". It sounds stronger and more emotional.

Is "large" used in IELTS writing?

Yes. It is common in academic and formal English, especially with amounts and numbers.

← Dictionary

large

/lɑːdʒ/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Big in size, amount, or number. It often sounds a little more formal than "big" and is common in writing, business, and academic English.

They live in a large house.
We need a large amount of water.
A large crowd gathered outside.

Adinary Nuance

Large is close to big, great, and huge, but it usually sounds more neutral and a little more formal. Use big in everyday speech, and large when you want a cleaner, more written style. Huge is stronger and more dramatic than large.

In other languages

Vietnamese: lớn
Spanish: grande
Chinese: 大的
Japanese: 大きい
Korean: 큰

Etymology

Large comes from Old French large, meaning “broad” or “wide,” and entered English in the Middle Ages. Its older sense of “broad” is still close to its modern meaning.

Common phrases

a large number ofa large amount ofin large partlarge-scale

Synonyms

big huge great substantial considerable

Related words

small size wide enormous major

Frequently asked questions

Is "large" more formal than "big"?: Yes. "Large" sounds a little more formal and is common in writing.
Can I say "a large person"?: Yes, but it can sound careful or polite. "A big person" is more common in speech.
What is the difference between "large" and "huge"?: "Huge" means much bigger than "large". It sounds stronger and more emotional.
Is "large" used in IELTS writing?: Yes. It is common in academic and formal English, especially with amounts and numbers.