(~er, ~est, ~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to describe something that is very large. Great is more formal than big.
The room had a ~ bay window.
...a ~ hall as long and high as a church.
ADJ: ADJ n
2.
Great means large in amount or degree.
I’ll take ~ care of it...
Benjamin Britten did not live to a ~ age.
ADJ
3.
You use ~ to describe something that is important, famous, or exciting.
...the ~ cultural achievements of the past...
America can be ~ again.
ADJ
~ness
A nation must take certain risks to achieve ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
You can describe someone who is successful and famous for their actions, knowledge, or skill as ~.
Wes Hall was once one of the West Indies’ ~ cricketers.
...the ~ George Padmore.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ness
Abraham Lincoln achieved ~ness.
N-UNCOUNT
5.
The ~s in a particular subject or field of activity are the people who have been most successful or famous in it. (JOURNALISM)
...all the ~s of Hollywood.
...cycling’s all-time ~s.
N-PLURAL: with supp
6.
The ~s of popular modern music are records that have been successful and that continue to be popular. (JOURNALISM)
...a medley of rock’n’roll ~s.
N-PLURAL
7.
If you describe someone or something as ~, you approve of them or admire them. (INFORMAL)
Arturo has this ~ place in Cazadero...
They’re a ~ bunch of guys...
I think she’s ~.
ADJ approval
8.
If you feel ~, you feel very healthy, energetic, and enthusiastic.
I feel just ~.
ADJ: feel ADJ
9.
You use ~ in order to emphasize the size or degree of a characteristic or quality.
...a ~ big Italian wedding.
...her sense of colour and ~ eye for detail.
ADJ emphasis
10.
You say ~ in order to emphasize that you are pleased or enthusiastic about something.
Oh ~! That’ll be good for Fergus.
EXCLAM feelings
11.
You say ~ in order to emphasize that you are angry or annoyed about something.
‘Oh ~,’ I thought. ‘Just what I need.’
EXCLAM feelings
12.
Great is used as part of the name of a species of plant or animal when there is another species of the same plant or animal which is smaller and has different characteristics.
...the ~ white shark.
N-IN-NAMES
see also ~er