Big vs. Large: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 16, 2023
Both words generally mean exceeding the usual size, but big often refers to physical dimensions, while large can refer to quantity, extent, or capacity.
Key Differences
The words big and large are synonymous in many contexts, typically used to describe something that is of greater size, quantity, or extent than the average or standard. Big is more informal and is often used in everyday speech, whereas large tends to be more formal and is commonly used in written language and specific contexts like measurements.
The term big can emphasize physical dimensions and appearance, often projecting a broader, more exaggerated impression. On the other hand, large is a more neutral term, frequently employed to describe dimensions, capacity, and quantity without necessarily emphasizing the visual aspect.
The versatility of big makes it applicable in various contexts, such as describing a considerable impact or significance. Large, meanwhile, is often used to quantify, representing extensive amounts, numbers, or volumes, particularly in formal and scientific settings.
The usage of big can sometimes be more subjective, reflecting personal perceptions of size or importance. In contrast, large can be more objective, often used when precise measurements and quantities are involved, reflecting a more factual representation of size or amount.
In certain expressions and idioms, big and large are not interchangeable. For instance, “big brother” conveys a specific cultural meaning, and “at large” has a distinctive implication of being free or unconfined, illustrating the nuanced usage of these terms.
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Comparison Chart
Use
More informal and commonly used in everyday speech.
More formal and often used in written language.
Emphasis
Often emphasizes physical dimensions and appearance.
Frequently describes dimensions, capacity, and quantity.
Subjectivity
Can be more subjective and perception-based.
Can be more objective and factual.
Context
Applicable in various contexts including impact and significance.
Used particularly in formal, scientific, and measurement contexts.
Interchangeable
Often interchangeable with "large," but not in specific idioms and expressions.
Often interchangeable with "big," but not in specific idioms and expressions.
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Big and Large Definitions
Big
Of considerable size, extent, or intensity.
The big tree overshadowed the small cottage.
Large
Of greater size than the average or standard.
The large pizza is enough for four people.
Big
Informal and commonly used in everyday speech.
He won big at the casino.
Large
Of considerable capacity or dimensions.
The large tank can hold 500 gallons of water.
Big
Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large.
Large
Of greater than average size, extent, quantity, or amount; big.
Big
Having great strength or force
A big wind.
In a big rage.
Large
Of greater than average scope, breadth, or capacity; comprehensive.
Big
Of great significance; momentous
A big decision.
A big victory.
Large
Important; significant
Had a large role in the negotiations.
A large producer of paper goods.
Big
Mature or grown-up
Big enough to take the bus by herself.
Large
Understanding and tolerant; liberal
A large and generous spirit.
Big
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling
My big brother is leaving for college next week.
Large
Of great magnitude or intensity; grand
“a rigid resistance to the large emotions” (Stephen Koch).
Big
Filled up; brimming over
Felt big with love.
Large
Pretentious; boastful. Used of speech or manners.
Big
Bountiful; generous
Had a big heart.
Large
(Obsolete) Gross; coarse. Used of speech or language.
Big
Pregnant
Big with child.
Large
(Nautical) Favorable. Used of a wind.
Big
Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence
A big official.
A big chief.
Large
(Slang) A thousand dollars
Bought a speedboat for 50 large.
Big
Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent
A big figure in the peace movement.
Large
Of considerable or relatively great size or extent.
Russia is a large country.
The fruit-fly has large eyes for its body size.
He has a large collection of stamps.
Big
Loud and firm; resounding
A big voice.
Large
That is large the manufactured size.
Big
(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).
Large
(obsolete) Abundant; ample.
Big
(Informal) Self-important; cocky
You're too big for your own good.
Large
(archaic) Full in statement; diffuse; profuse.
Big
In a pretentious or boastful way
Talked big about the new job.
Large
(obsolete) Free; unencumbered.
Big
With considerable success
Made it big with their recent best-selling album.
Large
(obsolete) Unrestrained by decorum; said of language.
Big
In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically
Failed big at the box office.
Large
(nautical) Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.
Big
Of great size, large.
Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.
Large
An old musical note, equal to two longas, four breves, or eight semibreves.
Big
(informal) Fat.
Gosh, she is big!
Large
(obsolete) Liberality, generosity.
Big
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
Large
A thousand dollars/pounds.
Getting a car tricked out like that will cost you 50 large.
Big
(informal) Well-endowed, possessing large breasts in the case of a woman or a large penis in the case of a man.
Whoa, Nadia has gotten pretty big since she hit puberty.
Large
An item labelled or denoted as being that size.
One small coffee and two larges, please.
Big
(informal) Adult; (of a child) older.
Kids should get help from big people if they want to use the kitchen.
We were just playing, and then some big kids came and chased us away.
She did it all on her own like a big girl.
Large
One who fits an item of that size.
Big
Old, mature. Used to imply that somebody is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
Large
(nautical) Before the wind.
Big
.informal Mature, conscientious, principled; generous.
That's very big of you; thank you!
I tried to be the bigger person and just let it go, but I couldn't help myself.
Large
Exceeding most other things of like kind in bulk, capacity, quantity, superficial dimensions, or number of constituent units; big; great; capacious; extensive; - opposed to small; as, a large horse; a large house or room; a large lake or pool; a large jug or spoon; a large vineyard; a large army; a large city.
Big
(informal) Important or significant.
What's so big about that? I do it all the time.
Large
Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.
We have yet large day.
Big
Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Large
Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.
I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education.
Big
(of a city) Populous.
Large
Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; - said of the mind and heart.
Big
(informal) Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns
You are a big liar.
Why are you in such a big hurry?
Large
Free; unembarrassed.
Of burdens all he set the Paynims large.
Big
Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence.
There were concerns about the ethics of big pharma.
Big money
Big Tech, Big Steel (large or influential tech or steel companies)
Big Science (science performed by large terms, of large scope, with government or corporate funding)
Large
Unrestrained by decorum; - said of language.
Big
Enthusiastic (about).
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Large
Prodigal in expending; lavish.
Big
In a loud manner.
Large
Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; - said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.
Big
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
Large
Freely; licentiously.
Big
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
Large
A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs, four breves, or eight semibreves.
Big
On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
Large
A garment size for a large person
Big
Hard.
He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.
Large
Above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A large city
Set out for the big city
A large sum
A big (or large) barn
A large family
Big businesses
A big expenditure
A large number of newspapers
A big group of scientists
Large areas of the world
Big
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
Large
Fairly large or important in effect; influential;
Played a large role in the negotiations
Big
(in the plural) The big leagues, big time.
Large
Large enough to be visible to the naked eye
Big
(university slang) A initiated member of a sorority who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
Large
Ostentatiously lofty in style;
A man given to large talk
Tumid political prose
Big
(BDSM) The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Large
Generous and understanding and tolerant;
A heart big enough to hold no grudges
That's very big of you to be so forgiving
A large and generous spirit
A large heart
Magnanimous toward his enemies
Big
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
Large
Conspicuous in position or importance;
A big figure in the movement
Big man on campus
He's very large in financial circles
A prominent citizen
Big
To inhabit; occupy.
Large
Having broad power and range and scope;
Taking the large view
A large effect
A large sympathy
Big
To locate oneself.
Large
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Big
To build; erect; fashion.
Large
At a distance, wide of something (as of a mark)
Big
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Large
With the wind abaft the beam;
A ship sailing large
Big
Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
Large
In a boastful manner;
He talked big all evening
Big
Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce; - often figuratively.
[Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome.
Large
Encompassing a great quantity or extent.
A large portion of the population voted.
Big
Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention, etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice; big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness or pride.
God hath not in heaven a bigger argument.
I talked big to them at first.
Large
More formal and often used in written language and measurements.
She ordered a large coffee.
Big
Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg."
Large
Frequently describes dimensions, capacity, and quantity in a neutral manner.
The company has a large workforce.
Big
To build.
Big
Above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;
A large city
Set out for the big city
A large sum
A big (or large) barn
A large family
Big businesses
A big expenditure
A large number of newspapers
A big group of scientists
Large areas of the world
Big
Significant;
Graduation was a big day in his life
Big
Of very great significance;
Deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decision
A momentous event
Big
Conspicuous in position or importance;
A big figure in the movement
Big man on campus
He's very large in financial circles
A prominent citizen
Big
Very intense;
A bad headache
In a big rage
Had a big (or bad) shock
A bad earthquake
A bad storm
Big
Loud and firm;
A big voice
Big bold piano sounds
Big
Prodigious;
Big spender
Big eater
Heavy investor
Big
(of animals) fully developed;
An adult animal
A grown woman
Big
Marked by intense physical force;
A big wind
Big
Feeling self-importance;
Too big for his britches
Had a swelled head
He was swelled with pride
Big
Older brother or sister;
Big sister
Big
Exhibiting self-importance;
Big talk
Big
Generous and understanding and tolerant;
A heart big enough to hold no grudges
That's very big of you to be so forgiving
A large and generous spirit
A large heart
Magnanimous toward his enemies
Big
Given or giving freely;
Was a big tipper
The bounteous goodness of God
Bountiful compliments
A freehanded host
A handsome allowance
Saturday's child is loving and giving
A liberal backer of the arts
A munificent gift
Her fond and openhanded grandfather
Big
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Big
Extremely well;
His performance went over big
Big
In a boastful manner;
He talked big all evening
Big
On a grand scale;
Think big
Big
In a major way;
The play failed big at the box office
Big
Significant in terms of quantity or degree.
He has a big appetite.
Big
Of great importance or consequence.
It’s a big decision to make.
Big
Emphasizing physical dimensions and appearance.
That’s a big elephant!
FAQs
Can Large be more objective?
Yes, large is often more objective and factual, especially in formal and scientific contexts.
Does Big emphasize appearance?
Yes, big often emphasizes physical dimensions and appearance.
Is Large used in measurements?
Yes, large is frequently used in written language and measurements.
Is Large applicable in quantifying?
Yes, large is often used to represent extensive amounts, numbers, or volumes.
Is Big more informal than Large?
Yes, big is considered more informal and is commonly used in everyday speech.
Does Big have a broader application?
Yes, big is versatile and can be applied in various contexts, including describing impact and significance.
Are Big and Large synonymous?
Yes, they are often synonymous but have different connotations and uses.
Can Big reflect personal perceptions?
Yes, big can be more subjective, reflecting personal perceptions of size or importance.
Can Large describe capacity?
Yes, large is suitable to describe considerable capacity or dimensions.
Can you use Big in formal writing?
It can be used, but large is generally more appropriate in formal and scientific writing.
Are there idioms where they aren’t interchangeable?
Yes, in idioms like “big brother” and “at large,” they are not interchangeable.
Is Large more neutral?
Yes, large tends to be more neutral and doesn’t necessarily emphasize visual aspect.
Do Big and Large have specific cultural meanings?
Yes, both words can have different implications and meanings depending on cultural and contextual nuances.
Can Big denote significance?
Yes, big can denote something of great importance or consequence.
Is Large more precise in measurements?
Yes, large is often more precise and factual when measurements are involved.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
