Synonyms for great


Grammar : Adj
Spell : greyt
Phonetic Transcription : greɪt

Top 10 synonyms for great Other synonyms for the word great

Définition of great

Origin :
  • Old English great "big, tall, thick, stout; coarse," from West Germanic *grautaz "coarse, thick" (cf. Old Saxon grot, Old Frisian grat, Dutch groot, German groß "great").
  • Said to have meant originally "big in size, coarse," and, if so, perhaps from PIE root *ghreu- "to rub, grind." It took over much of the sense of Middle English mickle, and is now largely superseded by big and large except for non-material things.
  • As a prefix to terms denoting "kinship one degree further removed" (early 15c., earliest attested use is in great uncle) it is from the similar use of French grand, itself used as the equivalent of Latin magnus. An Old English way of saying "great-grandfather" was þridda fæder, literally "third father."
  • In the sense of "excellent, wonderful" great is attested from 1848. Great White Way "Broadway in New York City" is from 1901. Great Spirit "high deity of the North American Indians," 1703, originally translates Ojibwa kitchi manitou. The Great War originally (1887) referred to the Napoleonic Wars, later (1914) to what we now call World War I (see world).
  • "The Great War" -- as, until the fall of France, the British continued to call the First World War in order to avoid admitting to themselves that they were now again engaged in a war of the same magnitude. [Arnold Toynbee, "Experiences," 1969]
  • Also formerly with a verb form, Old English greatian, Middle English greaten "to become larger, increase, grow; become visibly pregnant," which became archaic after 17c.
  • adj very large
  • adj important, celebrated
  • adj excellent, skillful
Example sentences :
  • Yet the great lady is not careless of engagements, and the wait is never prolonged.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • That shows you what life in a great city does for the morally weak.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • Stern displeasure was visible in the countenance of the great sculptor.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • This festival, in honour of Dionysus, was observed with great splendour.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • Ceremonies at Eleusis, in honour of Demeter, observed with great secrecy.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • He called them "brifiletched" and "awbsairf" with great nicety.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • The money must have been too great a temptation to him and to Fred.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • If he carried her triumphantly off, doubtless his regret for that would eventually be as great.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • Now he was about to go out into the great world, and fight his own way.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger
  • The storm which commenced so suddenly was one of great violence.
  • Extract from : « Brave and Bold » by Horatio Alger

Antonyms for great

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019