Word
greatness
Phoneticsgreat·ness
US/ˈɡɹeɪtnəs/
UK/ɡɹˈeɪtnəs/
Definitions
01exceptional skill or importance
n. the quality of being famous, powerful, or extremely good at something.
n. the state of being distinguished by high status, exceptional talent, or historical importance.
“The young athlete showed signs of greatness from her very first race.”
“Historians often debate whether his greatness was a result of his own character or merely the fortunate circumstances of his era.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the abstract quality of a person or achievement.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02large size or intensity
n. the quality of being very large in size, amount, or power.
n. the quality of being immense in magnitude, extent, or intensity.
“We were shocked by the greatness of the damage caused by the flood.”
“The sheer greatness of the mountain range left the explorers feeling small and vulnerable against the landscape.”
Formal
Usage
Often used with 'of' to describe a specific measurement or force.
Teaching tip
In modern English, 'size' or 'magnitude' is more common for physical objects; 'greatness' in this sense is usually reserved for abstract forces like 'the greatness of the storm'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03pride or arrogance
n. an old-fashioned word for being too proud or thinking you are better than others.
n. an obsolete sense referring to haughtiness, pride, or an inflated sense of one's own importance.
“The king's greatness of heart was often mistaken for simple pride.”
“In the old chronicles, the knight was punished for his greatness and his refusal to bow before the emperor.”
Archaic
Teaching tip
This sense is no longer used in modern speech and is only found in historical or literary texts.
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Riches plays Fred Beckwith, a swimming coach who trains the young Webb for his tilt at greatness.” “It’s about the imbalance between her love for Bob Dylan and his for her, how much was lost between them, and how she understood that his greatness excused it all.” “These were the players capable of greatness, who needed to be trained in a slightly different way.” Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/greatness