big

(bĭg)

adj. big·ger, big·gest

a. Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large. See Synonyms at large.

b. Having great strength or force: a big wind; in a big rage.

c. Of great significance; momentous: a big decision; a big victory.

a. Mature or grown-up: big enough to take the bus by herself.

b. Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling: My big brother is leaving for college next week.

a. Filled up; brimming over: felt big with love.

b. Bountiful; generous: had a big heart.

4. Pregnant: big with child.

a. Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence: a big official; a big chief.

b. Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent: a big figure in the peace movement.

6. Loud and firm; resounding: a big voice.

7. Informal Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular: "The Minneapolis indie-rock band was big in the blogosphere, beloved by hipsters, and unknown to pretty much everyone else" (Robert Levine).

8. Informal Self-important; cocky: You're too big for your own good.

adv.

1. In a pretentious or boastful way: talked big about the new job.

2. Informal

a. With considerable success: made it big with their recent best-selling album.

b. In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically: failed big at the box office.

Idiom:

big on

Enthusiastic about; partial to: "a patriotic youth organization big on military-style marching drills" (Earl Swift).

[Middle English, perhaps of Scandinavian origin.]

big′gish adj.

big′ly adv.

big′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

bigger - large or big relative to something else

larger

big, large - above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent; "a large city"; "set out for the big city"; "a large sum"; "a big (or large) barn"; "a large family"; "big businesses"; "a big expenditure"; "a large number of newspapers"; "a big group of scientists"; "large areas of the world"

Translations

أَكْبَر

větší

større

suurempi

veći

より大きい

더 큰

större

ใหญ่กว่า

daha büyük

to hơn

更大的

bigger

→ أَكْبَر větší større größer μεγαλύτερος mayor suurempi plus grand veći più grande より大きい 더 큰 groter større większy maior больший större ใหญ่กว่า daha büyük to hơn 更大的

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

bigger

a. comp. mayor, más grande.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

A boy's appetite grows very fast, and in a few moments the queer, empty feeling had become hunger, and the hunger grew bigger and bigger, until soon he was as ravenous as a bear.

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"I kin remember when her two feet was no bigger dan yer t'umb, and she weared worsted boots," moaned she.

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And going to a bigger pine, he rose by his own unaided exertions to the top branch, where he sat, all bedaubed with the pitch which that vegetable exudes.

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If it were ever so small--nay, if it were no bigger than my thumb--I should be very happy, and love it dearly.' Now--odd as you may think it--it came to pass that this good woman's wish was fulfilled, just in the very way she had wished it; for, not long afterwards, she had a little boy, who was quite healthy and strong, but was not much bigger than my thumb.

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Three weeks later, with a bigger record of mountain lions and bear than Hastings' to his credit, Billy emerged from Curry County and drove across the line into California.

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All in a hot and copper sky, The bloody Sun, at noon, Right up above the mast did stand, No bigger than the Moon.

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It is not long since it contained forty provinces; but is now not much bigger than all Spain, and consists but of five kingdoms and six provinces, of which part is entirely subject to the Emperor, and part only pays him some tribute, or acknowledgment of dependence, either voluntarily or by compulsion.

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"Why, a horse has bigger ears than a man; and a donkey has bigger ears than a horse," explained Tip.

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When the waves began to tumble and toss and to grow bigger and bigger the ship rolled up and down, and tipped sidewise--first one way and then the other--and was jostled around so roughly that even the sailor-men had to hold fast to the ropes and railings to keep themselves from being swept away by the wind or pitched headlong into the sea.

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They get bigger and bigger." His voice dropped as though he named strange names.

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Were they made of gold they would look like trinkets, like ornamental toys, no bigger in proportion than a jewelled drop in a woman's ear.

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All the difference is, that his pipe is somewhat bigger than theirs and he can make a greater smoke.

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