The elephant is a big animal.
- An example of big is a 10,000 square foot house.
- An example of big is your older brother.
- An example of big is when a four year old thinks ahead to when he is older or to when he will be "big."
The definition of big is something large or grand in size, or the status of being older or of being an adult or grown-up instead of a child.
- of great size, extent, or capacity; large
- great in amount or quantity
- great in force or intensity: a big wind
- elder: his big sister
- far advanced in pregnancy (with)
- filled or swelling (with)
- important or outstanding: to do big things
- very well known; famous
- popular; very well liked
- boastful; pompous; extravagant: big talk
- generous; noble: a big heart
- [oftenB-] designating an industry or other organized, large-scale activity regarded as having distinct political and economic interests: big oil, big labor, etc.
Origin of bigMiddle English from Germanic an unverified form bugja, swollen up, thick (from source bug and Norwegian dialect, dialectal bugge, big man) from Indo-European base an unverified form beu-, an unverified form bheu-, to blow up, swell from source puck, Classical Latin bucca, puffed cheek
- pompously; boastfully; extravagantly: to talk big
- in a broad way; showing imagination: think big!
- a. Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large. See Synonyms at large.b. Having great strength or force: a big wind; in a big rage.c. Of great significance; momentous: a big decision; a big victory.
- a. Mature or grown-up: big enough to take the bus by herself.b. Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling: My big brother is leaving for college next week.
- a. Filled up; brimming over: felt big with love.b. Bountiful; generous: had a big heart.
- Pregnant: big with child.
- a. Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence: a big official; a big chief.b. Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent: a big figure in the peace movement.
- Loud and firm; resounding: a big voice.
- Informal Widely liked, used, or practiced; popular: “The Minneapolis indie-rock band was big in the blogosphere, beloved by hipsters, and unknown to pretty much everyone else” ( Robert Levine )
- Informal Self-important; cocky: You're too big for your own good.
- In a pretentious or boastful way: talked big about the new job.
- Informal a. With considerable success: made it big with their recent best-selling album.b. In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically: failed big at the box office.
Origin of bigMiddle English perhaps of Scandinavian origin