big Definition

big
adj bigger, biggest

1. Large or largest in size, amount, weight, number, power, etc.

Thesaurus: huge, mammoth, large, long, high, elephantine, enormous, gigantic, immense, massive, titanic, vast; Antonym: little, small.
2. Significant or important to someone.

Example: You've got a big day tomorrow
3. Important, powerful or successful, especially in a special area or line of business, etc.

Example: the big four banks
Example: He's big in the city
Thesaurus: important, prominent, major, grand, powerful, leading, significant, influential, considerable, eminent, weighty.
4. Elder.

Example: my big sister
5. Adult; grown-up.

Example: not big enough to go on your own
Thesaurus: mature, grown, adult, elder.
6. often ironic
Generous or magnanimous.
Example: That was big of him
Thesaurus: generous, magnanimous, liberal, benevolent, benign, unselfish, generous, altruistic; Antonym: petty.
7. Boastful; extravagant; ambitious.

Example: big ideas
Thesaurus: pompous, presumptuous, pretentious, imperious, egoistic, bombastic, flamboyant, ostentatious; Antonym: modest.
(especially US)
8. colloq
Fond of or enthusiastic about it.
Example: She's very big on lace
Form: big on something (usually)
9. old use
In an advanced stage of pregnancy.
Example: big with child

adverb

colloq:
1. In a boastful, extravagant or ambitious way.

Example: likes to act big with his mates
2. Greatly or impressively.

Example: Your idea went over big with the boss

Derivative: bigness
noun

Idiom: big deal!

ironic, slang
An expression indicating that one is indifferent to, or not at all impressed by, what has just been said or done
Example: So his father's the chairman, - big deal!

Idiom: in a big

colloq
Wayvery much; strongly and enthusiastically.

Idiom: make it big

colloq
To become successful and famous.

Idiom: too big for one's boots

colloq
Having an exaggerated view of one's importance; conceited.

Etymology: 14c.