large

large, big, great mean above the average of its kind in magnitude, especially physical magnitude.

Large may be preferred when the dimensions, or extent, or capacity, or quantity, or amount is being considered

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a large lot

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a large hall

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a large basket

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a large meal

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a large allowance

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large crevasses and huge tunnels in many of them [icebergs] bore witness to a long voyage— Schytt

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Big, on the other hand, is especially appropriate when the emphasis is on bulk, or mass, or weight, or volume

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a big book

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a big pile

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the box is too big to carry

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a big voice

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so big already—so enormous in fact—that we named him Monstro, and he padded about like a furry whale— Atlantic

}

As applied to material objects, great has been practically displaced by large or big. Where great is used to denote physical magnitude, it now regularly connotes some impression (as of wonder, surprise, amusement, or annoyance) associated with the size

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the great head that seemed so weighted down with thought and study— The Nation

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the great size of these figures—the largest man is 167 feet long . . . prevented their character from being recognized— Amer. Guide Series: Calif.

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his eyes were great and hollow, as a famished man forlorn— Morris

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Great alone, in standard English, expresses degree

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he was listened to with respect and, when aroused, with nearly as great fear— W. C. Ford

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great kindness

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great heat

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In extended use, great suggests eminence, distinction, or supremacy

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if we win men's hearts throughout the world, it will not be because we are a big country but because we are a great country. Bigness is imposing. But greatness is enduring— A. E. Stevenson

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while large suggests breadth, comprehensiveness, or generosity

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in intellect and humanity he is the largest type I have come across. Other greater men in my time were great in some one thing, not large in their very texture— Ricketts

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and big carries over the implication of mass or bulk but often suggests impressiveness or importance rather than solidity or great worth

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so-called big names, which are still big and still have great readership value, command high prices— Baldwin

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he didn't expect to work here all his life . . . pretty soon he'd have a new job and would be a big man— Granite

}

Analogous words: vast, immense, enormous, *huge, mammoth, colossal, gigantic: tremendous, prodigious, monumental, stupendous, *monstrous: inordinate, *excessive, exorbitant, extreme, immoderate, extravagant

Antonyms: small

Contrasted words: little, diminutive, tiny, wee, minute (see SMALL): slight, slender, slim, *thin