large
Americanadjective
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larger,
comparative
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largest
superlative
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of more than average size, quantity, degree, etc.; exceeding that which is common to a kind or class; big; great.
a large house; a large number; in large measure; to a large extent.
- Antonyms:
- small
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on a great scale.
a large producer of kitchen equipment.
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of great scope or range; extensive; broad.
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grand or pompous.
a man given to large, bombastic talk.
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(of a map, model, etc.) representing the features of the original with features of its own that are relatively large so that great detail may be shown.
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famous; successful; important.
He's very large in financial circles.
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Obsolete. generous; bountiful; lavish.
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Obsolete.
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unrestrained in the use of language; gross; improper.
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unrestrained in behavior or manner; uninhibited.
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Nautical. free.
noun
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Music. the longest note in mensural notation.
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Obsolete. generosity; bounty.
adverb
idioms
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at large,
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free from restraint or confinement; at liberty.
The murderer is still at large.
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to a considerable extent; at length.
to treat a subject at large.
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as a whole; in general.
the country at large.
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Also at-large representing the whole of a state, district, or body rather than one division or part of it.
a delegate at large.
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Also at-large having a general, as opposed to a specific, role in an organization or project.
She’s the magazine’s editor-at-large.
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in large, on a large scale; from a broad point of view: Also in the large
a problem seen in large.
adjective
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having a relatively great size, quantity, extent, etc; big
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of wide or broad scope, capacity, or range; comprehensive
a large effect
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having or showing great breadth of understanding
a large heart
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nautical (of the wind) blowing from a favourable direction
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rare overblown; pretentious
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generous
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obsolete (of manners and speech) gross; rude
noun
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(esp of a dangerous criminal or wild animal) free; not confined
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roaming freely, as in a foreign country
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as a whole; in general
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in full detail; exhaustively
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See ambassador
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as a totality or on a broad scale
adverb
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nautical with the wind blowing from a favourable direction
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(sentence modifier) generally; as a rule
by and large, the man is the breadwinner
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nautical towards and away from the wind
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to be very prominent or important
Usage
What are other ways to say large?
Something that is large is of more than average size, quantity, or degree. How does large compare to great and big? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of large
First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin larga, feminine of largus “ample, generous”
Explanation
Large means the size of an item, such as clothing, that falls between medium and extra-large. If you realize your size has changed from medium to large, it might be time to cut back on the cupcakes. Something that is above average in size or number can be described with the adjective large. Your large collection of bottle caps, which covers the walls of three rooms in your house, is a perfect example. Large also describes something that covers a broad spectrum or scope. You might love being an American studies major because your classes cover a large range of topics.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Major carriers from large swaths of the state are now refusing to insure even low-risk properties with minimal danger of burning.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
Because these whales own so much of the world’s Bitcoin, their large buy and sell orders can drive sharp changes in the price.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
If the approach proves successful, it could open new ways to convert large volumes of industrial waste into marketable products.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
The Gunners had 15 players at the World Cup which meant that a large part of the squad joined up for pre-season later than the rest of their team-mates.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
Torak heard a twig snap behind him just as a large hand grabbed him by the jerkin and yanked him off his feet.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Drywood termites molt about seven times during their lives, shedding the old exoskeleton and replacing it with a larger one.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026
The complicated maneuvering is part of a larger dance between tech players over controlling and profiting from the emerging technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
The companies are betting that as the next generation of fashion enthusiasts comes of age, an even larger wedge of their wallets will go to secondhand fashion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
It added that the analysis was "deliberately conservative" and a larger distribution from the reserves should be considered by the Fifa Council once the financial position at year-end is known.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
For thousands of years, the North American Plate, caught between the Pacific and Eurasian Plates, had been squeezed by the two larger plates.
From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland
He has received so much money from hopeful investors that Strategy is now the world’s largest Bitcoin holder, with about 650,000 BTC in its coffers.
From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026
Buffett, Berkshire’s largest shareholder, will remain involved in the company, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
The sightings come as one of the UK's largest spider species, the wasp spider, was spotted in the Midlands as warmer temperatures pushed it more than 100 miles away from its usual habitat.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
The plant, one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery storage sites, was an older facility that launched in 2020.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
“Polar bears are the largest land predators on Earth. Even though they look like big, cute dogs to you, to them you look like a big hot dog with mustard and relish!”
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
