1
2
a
: large in number or measure : numerous
great multitudes
b
: predominant
the great majority
3
: remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness
great bloodshed
4
—used as a generalized term of approval
had a great time
It was just great.
5
a
: eminent, distinguished
a great poet
b
: aristocratic, grand
great ladies
c
: chief or preeminent over others
—often used in titles
Lord Great Chamberlain
6
: markedly superior in character or quality
7
a
: remarkably skilled
great at tennis
b
: marked by enthusiasm : keen
great on science fiction
8
: more remote in a family relationship by a single generation than a specified relative
great-grandfather
9
: long continued
a great while
11
: full of emotion
great with anger
plural great or greats
: an outstandingly superior or skillful person
a tribute to the greats of baseball
Synonyms
Examples of great in a Sentence
Adjective
all creatures great and small
The project will require a great amount of time and money.
The building was restored at great expense.
a great quantity of fish
The low cost of these products gives them great appeal.
There is a very great need for reform.
They're in no great hurry to finish.
There is a great demand for his services.
an actress of great charm
Is there any love greater than that between parent and child?
Adverb
We had some problems at first, but now things are going just great.
Keep up the good work. You're doing great!
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
The multiple tote bags Elsbeth drags around are a great example of this.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Explore Avicii Bob Dylan See latest videos, charts and news
This week: Timothée Chalamet helps get Bob Dylan rolling on streaming, one of basketball’s Ball brothers goes supernova on social media, a late dance great sees streaming gains from a new documentary and more.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 8 Jan. 2025
Cindy Shmerler, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Only one of the sport’s greats, Maribel Vinson, has more U.S. championships, with nine.
2006 — Bruce Sutter is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the fourth reliever and first pitcher elected with no career starts.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for great 
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Adjective
Finance chief Amy Hood said in October that revenue growth from Microsoft’s Azure cloud will speed up in the first half of this year because of greater AI infrastructure capacity.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025
The multiple tote bags Elsbeth drags around are a great example of this.
—Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
Adverb
The presentation also featured a surprise appearance by Tom Brady, the NFL great turned broadcaster for Fox Sports.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 8 Jan. 2025
Explore Avicii Bob Dylan See latest videos, charts and news
This week: Timothée Chalamet helps get Bob Dylan rolling on streaming, one of basketball’s Ball brothers goes supernova on social media, a late dance great sees streaming gains from a new documentary and more.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
De Minaur reveres the country’s greats, including Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, John Newcombe and Pat Rafter, along with his own mentors, Lleyton Hewitt and Tony Roche.
—Cindy Shmerler, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Only one of the sport’s greats, Maribel Vinson, has more U.S. championships, with nine.
2006 — Bruce Sutter is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the fourth reliever and first pitcher elected with no career starts.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for great
Articles Related to great
Dictionary Entries Near great
Cite this Entry
“Great.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
great
1 of 3 adjective
ˈgrāt 
in South also ˈgre(ə)t
1
: large in size : not small or little
2
: large in number : numerous
a great crowd
3
: long continued
a great while
4
: beyond the average or ordinary
a great weight
in great pain
5
: distinguished, prominent
a great artist
6
: more distant in relationship by one generation
7
: superior in quality or character
8
: remarkable in skill
great at tennis
9
—used as a term of general approval
had a great time
greatly
adverb
greatness
noun
great
2 of 3 adverb
: in a great manner : successfully, well
great
3 of 3 noun
plural great or greats
: an outstandingly superior or skillful person
the greats of baseball
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