1 a : very large in size : very big ▪ all creatures great and small —usually used before a noun ▪ a great beast ▪ We were surprised by the great size of the auditorium. ▪ They traveled through a great stretch of wilderness. ▪ a great cloud of smoke ▪ A great crowd had formed in the city square. ▪ the Great Wall of China ▪ the Great Lakes ▪ (US) The house has a large great room. [=a large room used for several different purposes] ▪ (informal) They live in a great big house. [=a very large house] ▪ (chiefly Brit) a huge/whopping great elephant b —used in the names of animals that are larger than similar animals ▪ the great white shark ▪ the great horned owl
2 : very large in amount or extent ▪ The project will require a great amount of time and money. ▪ He lived to a great age. [=he lived to be very old] ▪ The show was a great [=big, huge] success. ▪ It's been a great [=long] while since we last saw them. ▪ He amassed a great [=large] fortune. ▪ The building was restored at great expense. ▪ a great quantity of fish ▪ He explained in great [=much] detail how they had met. ▪ These topics need to be discussed in greater [=more] depth and at greater length. ▪ Our speed/strength/power became greater (and greater) as we went on. ▪ He made a great deal of money. [=he made a large amount of money] ▪ Things could be a great deal worse. [=things could be much worse] ▪ He is supported by the great majority of voters. [=by most voters]
3 a : very strong ▪ 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. ▪ She takes a great [=considerable] interest in everything her children do. ▪ an actress of great charm ▪ with great [=strongly felt] sadness/admiration/love ▪ Is there any love greater than that between parent and child? ▪ The whole matter must be treated with great care. [=very carefully] ▪ His comments are true to a great extent. [=most of his comments are true] ▪ This new tax affects everyone to a greater or lesser degree/extent. [=to some degree/extent] b —used for emphasis before a noun that describes someone ▪ I've always been a great admirer of his work. [=I have always admired his work very much] ▪ They are great friends. [=they are very friendly] ▪ I'm a great believer in the value of patience. [=I believe very much in the value of patience] c : very important ▪ This room is only used for great occasions. [=grand occasions, very important and formal occasions] d : very bad : very extreme or severe ▪ The storm caused great damage/destruction. ▪ He was obviously in great pain/discomfort. ▪ She has suffered a great loss. ▪ It would be a great mistake to ignore these problems. ▪ a great disaster/misfortune ▪ great difficulties ▪ a very great error
4 : better than good: such as a : of the highest quality ▪ great (works of) art/literature ▪ great music b : very important and admired ▪ a great poet/artist ▪ a great leader/scientist/thinker/woman ▪ He was a great but flawed man. ▪ a great discovery/invention ▪ great achievements c : very talented or successful ▪ My brother is a great golfer. ▪ She's a great judge of character. ▪ My brother is great at (playing) golf. [=my brother plays golf very well] ▪ She is great at Chinese cooking. d informal : very enjoyable, favorable, etc. : excellent ▪ “How was the movie?” “It was (really) great!” ▪ It was the greatest. ▪ The movie got great reviews. ▪ We are having great weather this summer. ▪ We had a great time on our vacation. ▪ a great party/lecture/performance ▪ an actress with great [=very good-looking] legs ▪ It's great to see you again. = It's great seeing you again. ▪ This restaurant is great for a quick meal. = This is a great restaurant for a quick meal. ▪ The food tastes great! ▪ Great work, everybody! ▪ “I've passed the exam!” “That's great!” —often used in the phrases feel great and look great ▪ You look great in that hat. = That hat looks great on you. ▪ Things aren't looking so great at this point. ▪ He came home early because he wasn't feeling too great. [=he wasn't feeling well] ▪ I feel great just being with her! —sometimes used in an ironic way to describe something that is very bad or upsetting ▪ “I can't find the tickets.” “That's (just) great! What are we supposed to do now?” ▪ Oh, great. Now I've lost the tickets.
5 always used before a noun : more distant in a family relationship by one generation ▪ My great aunt/uncle is my father's/mother's aunt/uncle. —usually used in combination ▪ My great-grandfather is my grandfather's father. ▪ My great-great-grandmother is my great-grandfather's mother. ▪ a gift sent to Great-Uncle Mike