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APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

great

/ˈɡɹeɪt/

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What does great mean?

adjective

  1. Taking much space; large.
  2. Much, more than usual.
  3. (informal) Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.
More meanings (17)

adjective

  1. (informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.
  2. Important, consequential.
  3. Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s).
  4. Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; commanding; illustrious; eminent.
  5. Impressive or striking.
  6. Much in use; favoured.
  7. Of much talent or achievements.
  8. Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.
  9. (obsolete) Pregnant; large with young; full of.
  10. (obsolete) Intimate; familiar.

interjection

  1. Expression of gladness and content about something.
  2. A sarcastic inversion thereof.

noun

  1. A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.
  2. The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.
  3. An instance of the word great signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.
  4. (informal, rare) A great-grandparent.

adverb

  1. (informal) Very well (in a very satisfactory manner).
Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈɡɹeɪt/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The great body of the people abide by the dry legal obligation in both cases, and a few break over in each.
Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln's First Inaugural AddressProject Gutenberg ebook #9
And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain.
Joseph, Jr. Smith; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Book of Mormon : $b an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of NephiProject Gutenberg ebook #17
More book examples (3)
The improvements in the art of navigation have, as to the facility of communication, rendered distant nations, in a great measure, neighbors.
Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James MadisonThe Federalist PapersProject Gutenberg ebook #18
His activity in revivals was great, and he proved himself an instrument in the hands of the church in converting many souls.
Frederick DouglassNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American SlaveProject Gutenberg ebook #23
The dawn in the east looked like the light from some great fire that was burning under the edge of the world.
Willa CatherO Pioneers!Project Gutenberg ebook #24