Large vs. Big — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
"Large" often describes extensive size or magnitude, while "Big" is a more general term indicating greater than average size or importance.
Difference Between Large and Big
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Both "Large" and "Big" are adjectives used to describe size or magnitude. "Large" is commonly used in more formal contexts or when detailing measurements. For instance, clothing sizes like "large" or "extra-large" indicate a specific set of measurements.
"Big," on the other hand, is a more colloquial term that can describe size, importance, or impact. A "big decision" might not refer to size, but rather its significance. Similarly, a "big car" could mean an SUV, a sedan, or even a truck, without being specific about its dimensions.
In many contexts, "Large" and "Big" can be interchangeable, especially when referring to physical size. A "large tree" and a "big tree" are both understood to be greater than average in size. However, the nuance of their usage differs, with "big" being more versatile and broader in its applications.
Despite their overlap, each word has unique instances where one might be preferred over the other. For example, in expressions like "big brother" or "big deal," "large" wouldn't be the right fit. Conversely, in formal settings like scientific research, "large sample size" would be more appropriate than "big sample size."
Comparison Chart
Formality
More formal, specific.
More casual, general.
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Contextual Usage
Common in measurements.
Broad applications including size, importance, etc.
Interchangeability
Often, but not always.
Often, but not always.
Expressions
Less common in idiomatic expressions.
Common in expressions like "big deal."
Relative Size Perception
May imply just above average.
Can imply significantly above average.
Compare with Definitions
Large
Of greater than average size or extent.
The park is quite large, covering several acres.
Big
Significant in importance or impact.
This is a big decision for our team.
Large
Wider in scale or amount.
The dessert comes in small, medium, and large sizes.
Big
Adult; mature.
When you're big, you'll understand.
Large
Of considerable or relatively great size, extent, or capacity
Add a large clove of garlic
The concert attracted large crowds
The jumper comes in small, medium, and large sizes
Big
Of considerable size or extent
Big staff cuts
Big buildings
Her big hazel eyes
Large
Of wide range or scope
We can afford to take a larger view of the situation
Big
Of considerable importance or seriousness
It's a big decision
His biggest problem is money
He made a big mistake
Large
Enjoy oneself in a lively way with drink or drugs and music
He's known in clubland for his capacity for larging it
Big
Generous
‘I'm inclined to take pity on you.’ ‘That's big of you!’
Large
Another term for free (sense 2 of the adverb)
Big
Praise or recommend something highly
The record's been on the streets a while now, but it's still worth bigging up
Large
Of greater than average size, extent, quantity, or amount; big.
Big
The major league in a professional sport
The day he made it to the bigs, he forgot every minor league ballpark he ever played in
Large
Of greater than average scope, breadth, or capacity; comprehensive.
Big
Of considerable size, number, quantity, magnitude, or extent; large.
Large
Important; significant
Had a large role in the negotiations.
A large producer of paper goods.
Big
Having great strength or force
A big wind.
In a big rage.
Large
Understanding and tolerant; liberal
A large and generous spirit.
Big
Of great significance; momentous
A big decision.
A big victory.
Large
Of great magnitude or intensity; grand
“a rigid resistance to the large emotions” (Stephen Koch).
Big
Mature or grown-up
Big enough to take the bus by herself.
Large
Pretentious; boastful. Used of speech or manners.
Big
Older or eldest. Used especially of a sibling
My big brother is leaving for college next week.
Large
(Obsolete) Gross; coarse. Used of speech or language.
Big
Filled up; brimming over
Felt big with love.
Large
(Nautical) Favorable. Used of a wind.
Big
Bountiful; generous
Had a big heart.
Large
(Slang) A thousand dollars
Bought a speedboat for 50 large.
Big
Pregnant
Big with child.
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
Having or exercising considerable authority, control, or influence
A big official.
A big chief.
Large
That is large the manufactured size.
Big
Conspicuous in position, wealth, or importance; prominent
A big figure in the peace movement.
Large
(obsolete) Abundant; ample.
Big
Loud and firm; resounding
A big voice.
Large
(archaic) Full in statement; diffuse; profuse.
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) Free; unencumbered.
Big
(Informal) Self-important; cocky
You're too big for your own good.
Large
(obsolete) Unrestrained by decorum; said of language.
Big
In a pretentious or boastful way
Talked big about the new job.
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
With considerable success
Made it big with their recent best-selling album.
Large
An old musical note, equal to two longas, four breves, or eight semibreves.
Big
In a thorough or unmistakable way; emphatically
Failed big at the box office.
Large
(obsolete) Liberality, generosity.
Big
Of great size, large.
Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.
Large
A thousand dollars/pounds.
Getting a car tricked out like that will cost you 50 large.
Big
(informal) Fat.
Gosh, she is big!
Large
An item labelled or denoted as being that size.
One small coffee and two larges, please.
Big
Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
Large
One who fits an item of that size.
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
(nautical) Before the wind.
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
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
Old, mature. Used to imply that somebody is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
Large
Abundant; ample; as, a large supply of provisions.
We have yet large day.
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
Full in statement; diffuse; full; profuse.
I might be very large upon the importance and advantages of education.
Big
(informal) Important or significant.
What's so big about that? I do it all the time.
Large
Having more than usual power or capacity; having broad sympathies and generous impulses; comprehensive; - said of the mind and heart.
Big
Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Large
Free; unembarrassed.
Of burdens all he set the Paynims large.
Big
(of a city) Populous.
Large
Unrestrained by decorum; - said of language.
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
Prodigal in expending; lavish.
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
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
Enthusiastic (about).
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Large
Freely; licentiously.
Big
In a loud manner.
Large
A musical note, formerly in use, equal to two longs, four breves, or eight semibreves.
Big
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
Large
A garment size for a large person
Big
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
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
On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
Large
Fairly large or important in effect; influential;
Played a large role in the negotiations
Big
Hard.
He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.
Large
Large enough to be visible to the naked eye
Big
An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
Large
Ostentatiously lofty in style;
A man given to large talk
Tumid political prose
Big
(in the plural) The big leagues, big time.
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
(university slang) A initiated member of a sorority who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
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
(BDSM) The participant in ageplay who acts out the older role.
Large
Having broad power and range and scope;
Taking the large view
A large effect
A large sympathy
Big
One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.
Large
In an advanced stage of pregnancy;
Was big with child
Was great with child
Big
To inhabit; occupy.
Large
At a distance, wide of something (as of a mark)
Big
To locate oneself.
Large
With the wind abaft the beam;
A ship sailing large
Big
To build; erect; fashion.
Large
In a boastful manner;
He talked big all evening
Big
To dwell; have a dwelling.
Large
Extensive in scope or magnitude.
The company has a large customer base.
Big
Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great size; large.
Large
More than adequate or sufficient in size.
The room is large enough for the meeting.
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
Notable in a specific quality.
He played a large role in the project's success.
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.
Big
Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg."
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
Of greater than average size or magnitude.
That's a big mountain!
Big
Prominent or influential.
She's a big name in the industry.
Big
Expressive of strong feeling or emphasis.
He has a big heart and cares for everyone.
Common Curiosities
Can "Large" and "Big" be used interchangeably?
Often they can, especially regarding size, but context matters. "Big" can also imply importance.
Is "Large" used in set measurements?
Yes, especially in contexts like clothing sizes.
Can "Big" describe importance, not just size?
Yes, like in "big decision" or "big event."
Is "Large" more formal than "Big"?
Generally, "Large" is more formal and specific, while "Big" is more casual and general.
Is "Large" more objective?
It can be, especially in settings like scientific research or specific measurements.
In which context would "Large" be inappropriate?
In idiomatic expressions like "big deal" or "big picture."
Does "Big" always indicate enormity?
Not always. "Big" can indicate something slightly above average or significantly large.
Is "Big" more versatile than "Large"?
In many ways, yes. "Big" can describe size, importance, age, and more.
Can "Big" describe age or maturity?
Yes, like "when you get big" meaning when you grow up.
Why can't we say "Large brother" like "Big brother"?
"Big brother" is an idiomatic expression. "Large" doesn't fit naturally in this context.
How does "Big" relate to exaggeration?
"Big" can sometimes be used to emphasize or exaggerate, like "big fat lie."
Are there phrases where "Large" is preferred?
Yes, like "by and large" or "larger than life."
Can "Large" imply significance like "Big"?
Less commonly. "Large" is often more about size than importance.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
