INDEX:
1. big objects/buildings/organizations etc
2. very big
3. big places, areas, cities
4. big people
5. large numbers/amounts
6. very large numbers or amounts
7. having a big effect
8. how big something is
9. to become bigger
10. to make something bigger
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ SMALL
a tall person : ↑ TALL
a fat person : ↑ FAT
a high building, tree etc : ↑ HIGH
see also
↑ WIDE
↑ THICK
↑ LOT
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1. big objects/buildings/organizations etc
▷ big /bɪg/ [adjective]
of greater than average size :
▪ He lives in a big house in upstate New York.
▪ ‘Which is your car?’ ‘The big red one next to the wall.’
▪ The wind got louder and the waves grew bigger and bigger.
▪ She struggled up the hill, carrying the baby and her big black bag.
▷ large /lɑːʳdʒ/ [adjective]
big. Large is more formal than big, and is more common in written English :
▪ On the other side of the fence there was a large bull.
▪ The hotel was quite large and very cold.
▪ large agricultural corporations
▪ Take the larger cushion to sit on -- you’ll be more comfortable.
▪ The largest urban areas in Britain lost population and employment in the 1950s and 60s.
▷ biggish /ˈbɪgɪʃ/ [adjective] especially British, spoken
fairly big, but not very big :
▪ These chocolates cost £2 for a biggish box.
▪ ‘What’s the house like?’ ‘Well, it has a biggish kitchen but all the other rooms are quite small.’
▷ bulky /ˈbʌlki/ [adjective]
a bulky object is big and difficult to carry or move around, or difficult to fit into a normal-sized space :
▪ The men were carrying bulky packages under their arms.
▪ The room was full of bulky old furniture.
▪ a bulky camera from the 1950s
▷ cumbersome /ˈkʌmbəʳs ə m/ [adjective]
too big and heavy to carry or move easily :
▪ I used to have one of those old sewing machines, but it was too cumbersome.
▪ The room was dominated by an enormous, cumbersome leather armchair.
2. very big
▷ huge/enormous /hjuːdʒ, ɪˈnɔːʳməs/ [adjective]
very big and impressive :
▪ She wears an engagement ring set with a huge diamond.
▪ My grandmother was wearing an enormous hat.
▪ She looked at the huge motorcycle. ‘I’ll never be able to ride that!’
▪ There was an enormous spider in the bottom of the bath.
▪ By the time of his death the company had grown into an enormous multi-national operation.
▷ great /greɪt/ [adjective only before noun]
very big and impressive - used especially in literature :
▪ Like great sailing ships, the clouds sped across the sky.
▪ As far as the eye could see, there stretched a great herd of buffalo.
▷ great big /ˈgreɪt bɪg/ [adjective only before noun] spoken
extremely big :
▪ They’ve built a great big shopping mall in the centre of town.
▪ There are fish in the pool, great big ones.
▪ She was given a great big bunch of flowers.
▷ massive /ˈmæsɪv/ [adjective]
use this about things that are extremely big and impressive, especially when they are solid and heavy :
▪ Her house is massive.
▪ The ancient temple’s massive stone pillars had begun to crumble.
▪ The bell is massive, weighing over forty tons.
▷ gigantic /dʒaɪˈgæntɪk/ [adjective]
much bigger than other things of the same type, often in a slightly strange or frightening way :
▪ Gigantic waves more than 40 feet high crashed against the boat.
▪ These gigantic creatures became extinct in the Jurassic period.
▷ colossal /kəˈlɒs ə lǁkəˈlɑː-/ [adjective]
extremely and surprisingly big - used especially about structures, buildings, and other things that have been built :
▪ There was a colossal statue of the King in the middle of the square.
▪ A crane arrived, its colossal arm reaching out of the sky toward the building.
▷ giant /ˈdʒaɪənt/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about a plant or animal that has grown to an unusually large size, or is of a type that is always much larger than ordinary plants or animals :
▪ Giant cabbages grew in the garden.
▪ Be careful. The forest is full of giant snakes and spiders.
▪ ...and then this giant green monster appeared from the cave.
▷ extra large /ˌekstrə ˈlɑːʳdʒ◂/ []
use this about packets, bottles, or other products that are much bigger than the size that is usually sold :
▪ an extra large packet of cornflakes
▪ Extra large eggs are generally a better buy than medium or large.
▷ be a whopper /biː ə ˈwɒpəʳǁ-ˈwɑː-/ [verb phrase] spoken informal
to be extremely big compared to the usual size :
▪ Look at the size of that pumpkin -- it’s a whopper.
3. big places, areas, cities
▷ big /bɪg/ [adjective]
▪ The nearest big town is twenty miles away.
▪ Which is bigger, Tokyo or London?
▪ We’ve got a big park fairly near our house.
▪ Germany is much bigger than Britain.
▷ large /lɑːʳdʒ/ [adjective]
use this about an area that is bigger than average size :
▪ He lived alone on the edge of a large forest.
▪ The farm buildings are spread over a large area.
▪ Philip found himself in a large playground surrounded by high brick walls.
▷ spacious/roomy /ˈspeɪʃəs, ˈruːmi/ [adjective]
use this about a room, building, or car that has a lot of space inside :
▪ The holiday villas are spacious, airy, and close to the sea.
▪ Spacious and luxurious apartments are available to company employees.
▪ The new Toyota saloon is both roomy and comfortable.
▪ Their new apartment’s very roomy.
▷ be a fair size /biː ə ˌfeəʳ ˈsaɪz/ [verb phrase] spoken
to be fairly big, especially big enough or bigger than you expect :
▪ Braintree is a fair size but it isn’t exactly a lively town.
▪ I’m sure it would hold 500 cars. It’s quite a fair size.
fair-sized [adjective only before noun]
▪ The house has a fair-sized yard at the back and a smaller one in front.
▷ huge/enormous /hjuːdʒ, ɪˈnɔːʳməs/ [adjective]
extremely big :
▪ Archeologists have found the remains of a huge city in the middle of the desert.
▪ The drawing room looked out over a huge lawn.
▪ The farm is huge, stretching for over fifteen miles.
▪ The distances between cities in Russia are simply enormous.
▷ immense /ɪˈmens/ [adjective]
extremely large :
▪ Migrating birds cover immense distances every winter.
▪ 60 million years ago, the whole area was an immense desert.
▷ vast /vɑːstǁvæst/ [adjective]
use this about areas of land, deserts, distances etc that are extremely large and usually have very few people in them :
▪ Vast areas of the Amazon rainforest have been destroyed.
▪ Vast distances separate one isolated community from another.
▪ a vast area of waste land
▷ palatial /pəˈleɪʃ ə l/ [adjective]
use this about houses or rooms that are extremely big and impressive :
▪ a palatial residence with a fine collection of 18th century paintings
▪ She lives in a palatial New York apartment.
4. big people
▷ big/large /bɪg, lɑːʳdʒ/ [adjective]
use this about someone who is tall and has a large body :
▪ My father was a big man, with legs like tree trunks.
▪ A large woman in her early 50s answered the door.
▷ huge/enormous /hjuːdʒ, ɪˈnɔːʳməs/
very big and tall, in a way that is impressive or frightening :
▪ The other wrestler was enormous - he must have weighed over 250 pounds.
▪ A huge policeman stood outside the gate.
▷ well-built /ˌwel ˈbɪlt◂/ [adjective]
use this about someone who is big and strong and has a lot of muscles :
▪ He was handsome and well-built, like a Hollywood movie star.
5. large numbers/amounts
▷ large /lɑːʳdʒ/ [adjective usually before noun]
▪ She’s used to working with large sums of money.
▪ Large numbers of seabirds have been killed by pollution following the oil spillage.
▪ A large proportion of the audience consisted of teenaged girls.
▷ high /haɪ/ [adjective usually before noun]
use this about rates, levels, measurements etc that are bigger than is usual or than is acceptable :
▪ Someone on such a high salary shouldn’t have to borrow money.
▪ High levels of radiation have been reported near the nuclear plant.
▪ I always try to avoid foods with a high fat content.
▷ considerable/sizeable/sizable /kənˈsɪd ə rəb ə l, ˈsaɪzəb ə l/ [adjective usually before noun]
fairly large :
▪ £1000 is a considerable sum for most people.
▪ She receives a sizable income from her investments.
▪ A considerable number of voters changed their minds at the last minute.
▪ Sugar is added in considerable quantities to most soft drinks.
▷ substantial/significant /səbˈstænʃ ə l, sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt/ [adjective]
large enough to be useful or to have an important effect :
▪ The survey showed that substantial numbers of 15-year-olds were already smoking twenty cigarettes a week.
in substantial/significant numbers
▪ Women began to enter the British Parliament in significant numbers in the 1990s.
a substantial/significant proportion of
▪ A significant proportion of drivers fail to keep to speed limits.
▷ generous /ˈdʒen ə rəs/ [adjective]
use this about an amount, especially of food or money, that is larger than what is needed or expected :
▪ He heaped the plate with a generous serving of meat and potato pie.
▪ I usually stir a generous quantity of rum into the cake mixture.
▪ The company offers bonuses, stock options, and a generous benefit package.
▷ handsome /ˈhæns ə m/ [adjective usually before noun]
use this about an amount of money someone gets or is paid that is surprisingly large :
▪ Ozzie left a very handsome tip on the plate.
▪ She received a handsome reward for finding the wallet.
▪ The big oil companies made a handsome profit out of the fuel crisis.
▷ hefty /ˈhefti/ [adjective only before noun]
use this about a surprisingly large amount of money, especially one that someone has to pay :
▪ The other driver received a hefty fine for his role in the accident.
▪ hefty admission fees
▪ It was a $350,000 contract, plus hefty bonuses and expenses.
6. very large numbers or amounts
▷ huge/enormous /hjuːdʒ, ɪˈnɔːʳməs/ [adjective]
▪ A huge number of people turned up for the demonstration.
▪ Their profits are enormous.
▪ Joan had very little money, and her hotel bill was huge.
▪ Enormous sums of money were spent on the construction of the Channel Tunnel.
▷ vast /vɑːstǁvæst/ [adjective usually before noun]
use this about an amount, number etc that is so large that it cannot be easily measured :
▪ The refugees arrived in vast numbers from villages all along the border.
▪ Vast quantities of food and drink were consumed at the wedding.
▷ massive /ˈmæsɪv/ [adjective]
extremely large :
▪ The system is capable of recording massive amounts of information.
▪ Union leaders are warning of massive job losses.
▪ The sums involved are massive -- over £12 billion in the first year alone.
▷ colossal /kəˈlɒs ə lǁkəˈlɑː-/ [adjective]
use this about numbers or amounts, especially of money, that are extremely and surprisingly large :
▪ Children are failing exams and dropping out of school in colossal numbers.
▷ whopping /ˈwɒpɪŋǁˈwɑː-/ [adjective only before noun] spoken informal
a whopping sum of money or number is extremely large :
▪ He managed to get a TV celebrity to open the theatre -- but at a whopping fee.
▪ In the divorce proceedings, she demanded the car and a whopping two-thirds of the family business.
7. having a big effect
▷ big /bɪg/ [adjective only before noun]
▪ The city has a big problem with drugs.
▪ If you think I’m coming with you, you’re making a big mistake.
▷ major /ˈmeɪdʒəʳ/ [adjective only before noun]
having a serious and important effect, especially on a lot of people, places, situations etc :
▪ Heavy traffic is a major problem in most cities.
▪ Think carefully before you decide on such a major undertaking.
▪ Nuclear weapons are a major obstacle on the road to peace.
▷ considerable /kənˈsɪd ə rəb ə l/ [adjective usually before noun] formal
having a fairly large or important effect :
▪ The recent slowdown in the US economy is likely to have a considerable impact on the rest of the world.
▪ There was a considerable delay in the processing of our application.
▷ great /greɪt/ [adjective only before noun]
use this to emphasize how much of an effect something has, especially a good effect :
▪ Thanks. You’ve been a great help.
▪ It would be of great assistance if customers could have the exact money ready.
▪ I have great difficulty in reading without my glasses.
▷ huge/enormous/immense /hjuːdʒ, ɪˈnɔːʳməs, ɪˈmens/ [adjective]
use this to emphasize that something is extremely big, important, or serious :
▪ The city of Detroit has a huge crime problem.
▪ Enormous changes are taking place in the way we communicate with each other.
▪ The difference between living in the country and living in the city is immense.
▪ His contribution to the team’s success has been immense.
▷ tremendous /trɪˈmendəs/ [adjective]
use this to emphasize how big, important, and often exciting an effect will be :
▪ My new job will be a tremendous challenge.
▪ Your advice has been a tremendous help to us.
▪ It was a tremendous thrill, meeting her in person.
▷ large scale/large-scale /ˌlɑːʳdʒ ˈskeɪl◂/ [adjective]
involving a lot of money or effort, or a lot of people or places :
▪ Large-scale development has given new life to the inner city.
▪ We need large-scale investment in the industry’s future.
on a large scale
▪ Developing countries will need help on a large scale for many years to come.
8. how big something is
▷ size /saɪz/ [uncountable noun]
▪ He was incredibly aggressive - it was only his size that stopped me from hitting him.
▪ The sheer size of the building was amazing.
▪ I hadn’t realized the size of the problem until now.
of that size
▪ They shouldn’t keep a dog of that size in such a small apartment.
▷ how big /ˌhaʊ ˈbɪg/
use this to talk about or ask about the size of something :
▪ I’m not sure how big the house is.
▪ How big do these fish grow?
▷ scale /skeɪl/ [singular noun]
the size of something such as a problem or a change, not of an object, vehicle etc :
on a scale
▪ We were not expecting a public response on such a scale.
the scale of something
▪ Rescue workers are trying to assess the scale of the disaster.
▪ Scientists are only just beginning to realize the scale of the problem.
▷ magnitude /ˈmægnɪtjuːd, ˈmægnətjuːdǁ-tuːd/ [uncountable noun] formal
the magnitude of a problem/disaster/decision etc
how big and important or serious something is :
▪ I cannot emphasize too strongly the magnitude of this problem.
of this/such magnitude
▪ Decisions of this magnitude should not be taken by one person alone.
▪ The oil spillage in the Gulf was of such magnitude that its effects will last for decades.
9. to become bigger
▷ get bigger /ˌget ˈbɪgəʳ/ [verb phrase]
to become bigger :
▪ The hole in the ozone layer is getting bigger all the time.
▪ More workers were taken on as the organization got bigger.
▪ Teachers are reporting higher stress levels as class sizes get bigger.
get bigger and bigger
continue to become bigger
▪ The cloud of dust and debris was getting bigger and bigger as the wind grew stronger.
▷ grow /grəʊ/ [intransitive verb]
use this especially about amounts, organizations, and places :
▪ Mark’s business grew rapidly in the first year.
▪ Tandem’s annual profits grew by 24% in one year.
▪ Tokyo has grown a lot over the last ten years.
▷ expand /ɪkˈspænd/ [intransitive verb]
to become bigger in size or amount. If a business, organization, or system expands, it becomes bigger and more successful :
▪ Metals expand when they are heated.
▪ The universe is constantly expanding.
▪ Medical insurance companies expanded rapidly during the 1980s.
▪ The sports and leisure market is expanding more quickly than ever before.
▷ swell up /ˌswel ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
if a part of your body swells up, it becomes larger than usual, especially because of an illness or injury :
▪ I dropped a brick on my foot, and it swelled up like a balloon.
▪ His face had swollen up because of the operation.
swollen /ˈswəʊlən/ [adjective]
▪ a swollen ankle
▷ stretch /stretʃ/ [intransitive verb]
if something such as a piece of clothing stretches, it gets bigger and changes its shape especially because it has been pulled :
▪ Your jeans will stretch a little once you start wearing them.
▪ The elastic stretches so that the shoe can be slipped on and off.
▪ This fabric will stretch if you wash it in hot water.
10. to make something bigger
▷ expand /ɪkˈspænd/ [transitive verb]
to make something bigger - use this especially about increasing numbers or amounts, or about increasing the size of a company or organization :
▪ She intends to expand the company’s operations in the US.
▪ The university is planning to expand the number of students to over 20,000.
▷ grow /grəʊ/ [transitive verb]
to make a company or economy bigger and increase the amount of business that it does - used especially in business English :
▪ All this is necessary if we are to grow the business.
▷ stretch /stretʃ/ [transitive verb]
to pull cloth, plastic, leather, etc so that it gets bigger and changes its shape :
▪ Stretch the canvas so that it covers the whole frame.
▷ blow up/enlarge /ˌbləʊ ˈʌp, ɪnˈlɑːʳdʒ/ [transitive verb]
to make something bigger, for example a photograph or an image on a computer. Enlarge is more formal than blow up. :
▪ That’s a nice photo, why don’t you get it enlarged?
▪ If the opening is too small, you can always enlarge it later.
▪ The new photocopier will enlarge documents by up to 100%.
blow something up
▪ You should blow that picture up and frame it.
blow up something
▪ This section of the print has been blown up so that the enemy’s tanks can be clearly seen.
enlargement [countable noun]
▪ an enlargement of the wedding photo
▷ magnify /ˈmægnɪfaɪ, ˈmægnəfaɪ/ [transitive verb]
to make an image or detail bigger, especially by using a microscope :
▪ This microscope can magnify an object up to forty times.
▪ The image is magnified by a series of lenses within the telescope.
▷ extend /ɪkˈstend/ [transitive verb] British
to make a building bigger by adding more rooms or more space :
▪ The hotel has been recently renovated and extended.
▪ We’re thinking of extending the kitchen.