big

A2 · Elementary Business

adj. important or powerful.

adj. significant, influential, or prominent within a particular context.

“This is a big decision that will change your whole life.”

“Securing the contract with the national health service was a big win for the startup, ensuring their financial stability for the next decade.”

A2 · Elementary Informal

adj. older or more adult, often used when talking to children.

adj. denoting an older sibling or a child who has reached a certain level of maturity.

“You are a big girl now, so you can tie your own shoes.”

“The teacher encouraged the big kids to help the toddlers during the joint playground session.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

adj. very popular or successful.

adj. highly successful or widely popular in a specific market or culture.

“K-pop is really big in Europe right now.”

“The brand became big in the mid-nineties after several high-profile celebrities were spotted wearing their signature denim jackets.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal

adj. liking something very much.

adj. demonstrating strong interest or enthusiasm for a particular activity or subject.

“My brother is a big fan of old jazz music.”

“Although she isn't big on team sports, she spends several hours every morning training for long-distance marathons.”

C1 · Advanced Business Humorous · Informal

adj. used to describe large companies that have too much power.

adj. referring to large-scale corporate or industrial interests, often implying a cynical or manipulative influence.

“Some people are worried about the power of Big Tech companies.”

“The documentary investigates how Big Oil lobbied against environmental regulations throughout the late twentieth century.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

adv. in a way that is large or successful.

adv. to a great extent or on a large scale; often used with verbs like 'think' or 'win'.

“If you want to succeed in business, you have to think big.”

“The venture capitalist advised the founders to dream big but maintain a rigorous focus on their immediate quarterly targets.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang

n. an important or powerful person in a group.

n. an individual of importance, power, or influence within a specific hierarchy.

“He's one of the bigs in the advertising world.”

“After years in the minor leagues, the pitcher finally got the call to join the bigs in New York.”