big

UK: /ˈbɪg/ US: /bɪg/ ,(big)

Inflections of 'big' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

bigs

v 3rd person singular

bigging

v pres p

bigged

v past

bigged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

big¹ /bɪg/   adj., big•ger, big•gest, adv. 
adj. 

1. large in size, height, width, or amount:
   a big house.
2. of major concern or importance;
   outstanding;
   influential:
   [before a noun] a big problem.
3. grown-up;
   mature:
   You are big enough to know better.
4. [before a noun] elder:
   my big sister.
5. Government large-scale and powerful:
   [before a noun] big government.
6. [be + ~] known or used widely;
   popular:
   Jazz became big in the 1920's.
7. generous;
   magnanimous:
   She was big enough to forgive him.
8. boastful;
   pompous:
   a big talker.
9. loud:
   a big voice.

adv. 

10. Informal Terms successfully:
    The new plans went over big.

Idioms

11. Idioms be big on, [~ + object] Informal. to have a special liking or enthusiasm for:
    That teacher is big on neatness.

big•gish, adj. 
big•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

big¹  (big), adj., big•ger, big•gest, adv., n. 
adj. 

1. large, as in size, height, width, or amount:
   a big house; a big quantity.
2. of major concern, importance, gravity, or the like:
   a big problem.
3. outstanding for a specified quality:
   a big liar; a big success.
4. important, as in influence, standing, or wealth:
   a big man in his field.
5. grown-up;
   mature:
   big enough to know better.
6. elder:
   my big sister.
7. doing business or conducted on a large scale;
   major in size or importance:
   big government.
8. consisting of the largest or most influential companies in an industry:
   Big steel wants to lower prices, but the smaller mills don't.
9. [Informal.] known or used widely;
   popular:
   Nouvelle cuisine became big in the 1970s.
10. magnanimous;
    generous;
    kindly:
    big enough to forgive.
11. boastful;
    pompous;
    pretentious;
    haughty:
    a big talker.
12. loud;
    orotund:
    a big voice.
13. Clothing (of clothing or a clothing design) made of or distinguished by voluminous fabric that is loosely or softly shaped and fitted:
    a big shirt; the big look.
14. Wine (of a wine) having more than average flavor, body, and alcoholic content.
15. filled;
    brimming:
    eyes big with tears.
16. Dialect Terms [Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.] pregnant.
17. [Obs.] very strong;
    powerful.
18. Idioms be big on, to have a special liking or enthusiasm for:
    Mother is big on family get-togethers.
19. Idioms big with child. See great (def. 17).

adv. 

20. Informal Terms boastfully;
    pretentiously:
    to act big; to talk big.
21. Informal Terms with great success;
    successfully:
    to go over big.

n. 

22. Sport the bigs, the highest level of professional competition, as the major leagues in baseball.

• ?
• Middle English big(ge) 1250–1300

big′gish, adj. 
big′ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. huge, immense; bulky, massive; capacious, voluminous; extensive. See great. 
• 4. consequential.
• 15. overflowing, flooded.

Antonyms

• 1. little.

big²  (big), v.t., bigged, big•ging. [Brit. Dial.]

1. British Terms to build.

Also, bigg. 

• Old Norse byggja to inhabit, cognate with Old English bū(i)an, German bauen
• Middle English biggen origin, originally, to inhabit 1150–1200

big³  (big), n. [Scot. and North Eng.]

1. Scottish Terms bigg¹.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

big / bɪɡ/ adjective (bigger, biggest)

1. of great or considerable size, height, weight, number, power, or capacity
2. having great significance; important
3. important through having power, influence, wealth, authority, etc
4. considerable in extent or intensity (esp in the phrase in a big way)
5. elder: my big brother
6. grown-up
7. generous; magnanimous: that's very big of you
8. (in combination): big-hearted
9. extravagant; boastful: he's full of big talk
10. too big for one's boots, too big for one's breeches ⇒ conceited; unduly self-confident
11. in an advanced stage of pregnancy (esp in the phrase big with child)

adverb

1. boastfully; pretentiously (esp in the phrase talk big)
2. in an exceptional way; well: his talk went over big with the audience
3. on a grand scale (esp in the phrase think big)

Etymology: 13th Century: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian dialect bugge big man

ˈbigness noun