What is another word for big?

It depends which big you mean. In the sense “above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent”, the synonyms are large. Across all 17 senses there are 35 distinct synonyms, and they are not interchangeable with each other — this page lists them under the sense each one belongs to.

What is the opposite of big?

The recorded antonyms are little, small. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.

Why are the synonyms for big split into groups?

Because big carries 17 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.

Does this page cover every sense of big?

It covers the 12 senses that carry a synonym, antonym, broader or narrower term. The remaining 5 senses have none recorded, so they are left off a thesaurus page and shown in full on the word page instead.

Where do the synonyms for big come from?

From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Synonyms and antonyms

big

big/ˈbɪɡ/

adjectiveadverbCore

big has 35 distinct synonyms spread across 11 of its 17 senses. Each sense below keeps its own list, because a synonym belongs to a meaning and not to a word: swapping one sense's substitute into another sense's sentence is how a thesaurus makes writing worse. Its 2 recorded opposites are little, small.

35
Distinct synonyms: 2
Antonyms: 12 of 17
Senses with a relation

Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.

big as an adjective

10 of 13 senses carry a relation

1.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
“a large city”
Synonymslarge
Antonymslittle
3.
very intense
“a bad headache”
Synonymsbad
5.
conspicuous in position or importance
“a big figure in the movement”
Synonymslarge prominent
6.
prodigious
“big spender”
Synonymsheavy
7.
exhibiting self-importance
“big talk”
Synonymsboastful braggart bragging braggy cock-a-hoop crowing self-aggrandizing self-aggrandising
8.
feeling self-importance
“too big for his britches”
Synonymsswelled vainglorious
9.
(of animals) fully developed
“an adult animal”
Synonymsadult full-grown fully grown grown grownup
11.
generous and understanding and tolerant
“a heart big enough to hold no grudges”
Synonymslarge magnanimous
12.
given or giving freely
“was a big tipper”
Synonymsbighearted bounteous bountiful freehanded handsome giving liberal openhanded
13.
in an advanced stage of pregnancy
“was big with child”
Synonymsenceinte expectant gravid great large heavy with child

big as an adverb

2 of 4 senses carry a relation

2.
in a boastful manner
“he talked big all evening”
Synonymsboastfully vauntingly large
3.
on a grand scale
“think big”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymssmall

5 of the 17 recorded senses carry no synonym, antonym or related term, so they are not shown above. Every sense, with its definition and examples, is on the full entry for big.

Questions about big

What is another word for big?: It depends which big you mean. In the sense “above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent”, the synonyms are large. Across all 17 senses there are 35 distinct synonyms, and they are not interchangeable with each other — this page lists them under the sense each one belongs to.
What is the opposite of big?: The recorded antonyms are little, small. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.
Why are the synonyms for big split into groups?: Because big carries 17 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.
Does this page cover every sense of big?: It covers the 12 senses that carry a synonym, antonym, broader or narrower term. The remaining 5 senses have none recorded, so they are left off a thesaurus page and shown in full on the word page instead.
Where do the synonyms for big come from?: From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Other views of big

Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for big come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.

Loading page

Synonyms and antonyms

big

big/ˈbɪɡ/

adjectiveadverbCore

35
Distinct synonyms: 2
Antonyms: 12 of 17
Senses with a relation

Counts are distinct word forms across every sense. A synonym that appears under three senses is counted once here and shown three times below, under each sense it belongs to.

big as an adjective

10 of 13 senses carry a relation

1.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
“a large city”
Synonymslarge
Antonymslittle
3.
very intense
“a bad headache”
Synonymsbad
5.
conspicuous in position or importance
“a big figure in the movement”
Synonymslarge prominent
6.
prodigious
“big spender”
Synonymsheavy
7.
exhibiting self-importance
“big talk”
Synonymsboastful braggart bragging braggy cock-a-hoop crowing self-aggrandizing self-aggrandising
8.
feeling self-importance
“too big for his britches”
Synonymsswelled vainglorious
9.
(of animals) fully developed
“an adult animal”
Synonymsadult full-grown fully grown grown grownup
11.
generous and understanding and tolerant
“a heart big enough to hold no grudges”
Synonymslarge magnanimous
12.
given or giving freely
“was a big tipper”
Synonymsbighearted bounteous bountiful freehanded handsome giving liberal openhanded
13.
in an advanced stage of pregnancy
“was big with child”
Synonymsenceinte expectant gravid great large heavy with child

big as an adverb

2 of 4 senses carry a relation

2.
in a boastful manner
“he talked big all evening”
Synonymsboastfully vauntingly large
3.
on a grand scale
“think big”
SynonymsNo synonym recorded for this sense.
Antonymssmall

5 of the 17 recorded senses carry no synonym, antonym or related term, so they are not shown above. Every sense, with its definition and examples, is on the full entry for big.

Questions about big

What is another word for big?: It depends which big you mean. In the sense “above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent”, the synonyms are large. Across all 17 senses there are 35 distinct synonyms, and they are not interchangeable with each other — this page lists them under the sense each one belongs to.
What is the opposite of big?: The recorded antonyms are little, small. Opposites are sense-specific too: this page shows which meaning each one is the opposite of, because a word rarely has a single opposite that holds for all of its senses.
Why are the synonyms for big split into groups?: Because big carries 17 recorded senses and each has its own set of substitutes. A single flat list would put words from unrelated meanings side by side with nothing to tell them apart, which is exactly how a writer picks the wrong one. The grouping comes from WordNet's synsets, not from an editorial judgement of ours.
Does this page cover every sense of big?: It covers the 12 senses that carry a synonym, antonym, broader or narrower term. The remaining 5 senses have none recorded, so they are left off a thesaurus page and shown in full on the word page instead.
Where do the synonyms for big come from?: From Princeton University's WordNet, a lexical database maintained by lexicographers since 1985. A synonym here means a word form that shares a synset with this word — a set of forms interchangeable in one recorded context. Nothing on this page is generated by a language model.

Other views of big

Synonyms, antonyms and the broader and narrower relations for big come from Princeton University’s WordNet. Full sources and licences.

Tools

Jump to

Images & video

PDF & writing

Calculate & convert

Health & fitness

AI, code & work

Learn & play

Tool directories

Search

Jump to

Explore AltFTool

Help

Theme

big

big as an adjective

big as an adverb

Questions about big

Other views of big

Tools

Jump to

Images & video

PDF & writing

Calculate & convert

Health & fitness

AI, code & work

Learn & play

Tool directories

Search

Jump to

Explore AltFTool

Help

Theme

big

big as an adjective

big as an adverb

Questions about big

Other views of big