grand
grand — adjective
- grandpositive
- grandercomparative
- grandestsuperlative
1. being the most important, largest, or most powerful among things of the same typ
being the most important, largest, or most powerful among things of the same type; serving as the main or leading item in a group.
The grand prize for the competition was a two-week trip to Japan.
attributive use: grand prize (most important award)
Putri's grand ambition was to become a marine biologist and protect the ocean.
The grand entrance to the museum was decorated with tall marble columns.
After winning the grand final, the team celebrated with their cheering fans.
A grand total of four hundred people attended the charity dinner on Saturday.
collocation: grand total
- grand prize
- grand ambition
- grand entrance
- grand final
- grand total
- grand opening
Grammar Patterns
grand + noun
Usage Note
Almost always used before a noun in this sense — you would not say 'The prize was grand' to mean 'the prize was the most important.'
Common Mistakes
2. extremely large, beautiful, or costly in a way that makes people feel admiration
extremely large, beautiful, or costly in a way that makes people feel admiration or wonder.
Rafael bought a grand old house near the beach with a big garden.
attributive: grand + old + house (collocation pattern)
The castle had a grand dining hall with paintings on every wall.
Min dreamed of a grand wedding with two hundred guests from all over the world.
Everything about the palace looked grand — the carpets, the lights, and the furniture.
predicative use after 'looked': be/look/seem + grand
A grand feast was prepared for the New Year celebration in the village square.
- grand house
- grand building
- grand scheme
- grand design
- grand plan
- grand gesture
- grand scale
- majestic
suggests stately dignity, often for natural scenery or large buildings
- magnificent
emphasizes beauty and richness more than sheer size
- splendid
more about visual brilliance; common in British English
- imposing
focuses on the feeling of awe or slight intimidation
Grammar Patterns
grand + noun
be + grand
Common Mistakes
3. used within the official title given to a particular building, natural landmark,
used within the official title given to a particular building, natural landmark, or public event, signalling that it is very large or magnificent.
The Grand Canyon is one of the most famous natural wonders in the world.
proper name: the Grand Canyon
We spent the night at the Grand Hotel near the train station in Taipei.
A jazz band was playing at the Grand Theatre on Saturday evening.
Zayd took a boat tour on the Grand Canal during his trip to Venice.
Grammar Patterns
the Grand + noun
Usage Note
This sense only applies inside fixed proper names. You cannot freely say 'a grand canyon' to mean 'a large canyon' — that would require sense 2.
Common Mistakes
4. wonderfully good, fun, or satisfying; a casual way of saying that an experience
wonderfully good, fun, or satisfying; a casual way of saying that an experience or situation is very pleasant.
We had a grand time at the beach — the weather was perfect all day.
informal collocation: have a grand time
The weather was grand for the picnic, so the children played outside until dark.
Élise said the concert was grand — the band played all her favourite songs.
A grand dinner of roast chicken and fresh salad made everyone happy after the long trip.
- grand time
- grand weather
- grand day
- grand meal
- grand fun
Grammar Patterns
grand + noun
be/look/feel + grand
Usage Note
Chiefly used in British and Australian English. More common in spoken language than in formal writing. Often appears in fixed pairs like 'a grand time' or 'grand weather.'
Common Mistakes
5. acting or speaking in a way that suggests you believe you are more important, ri
acting or speaking in a way that suggests you believe you are more important, richer, or of a higher social class than other people.
The director put on grand airs and refused to talk to anyone below his rank.
fixed phrase: put on grand airs (act superior)
Niran's employer spoke in a grand manner about owning three houses abroad.
When the waiter made a small mistake, the customer gave him a grand, angry look.
Some residents disliked the way the new neighbour behaved with such grand confidence.
- grand airs
- grand manner
- grand attitude
- grand confidence
- grand style
Grammar Patterns
grand + noun
act/talk/behave + grand
Usage Note
Often carries a negative tone — it criticises the person's attitude. The related phrase 'put on grand airs' is the most common fixed expression in this sense.
Common Mistakes
6. focused on noble, spiritual, or deeply thoughtful subjects rather than everyday
focused on noble, spiritual, or deeply thoughtful subjects rather than everyday concerns; aiming at what is morally or intellectually elevated.
The professor spoke about grand ideas such as justice, freedom, and human dignity.
collocation: grand ideas (noble concepts)
Amani's novel explored grand themes of love and sacrifice across three generations.
The grand vision of a peaceful world inspired many people to join the movement.
The music swelled and felt grand and emotional, filling the whole hall with sound.
- grand ideas
- grand themes
- grand vision
- grand design
- grand scheme
Grammar Patterns
grand + abstract noun
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 describes physical size or visual impressiveness, while sense 6 describes abstract, moral, or intellectual nobility.
Common Mistakes
Used to emphasize that someone is very old, often with admiration or humor.
My grandmother learned to use a tablet at the grand old age of 85.
Did you hear that Min ran a marathon at the grand old age of 72?
A highly respected older man who has been a leader in a particular field for many years.
Dr. Chen is considered the grand old man of Taiwanese archaeology.
At the conference, the grand old man of jazz received a standing ovation.
grand — noun
- grandsingular
- grandsplural
1. an informal unit meaning one thousand dollars or pounds; used especially when ta
an informal unit meaning one thousand dollars or pounds; used especially when talking about prices, costs, or salaries in everyday conversation.
Eli spent five grand on a used car that broke down after one month.
number + grand: five grand = £5,000 / $5,000
The painting sold for twenty grand at the auction last spring.
Adina borrowed two grand from the bank to start her small bakery business.
Annual membership costs about one grand at the private golf club near the lake.
The landlord wanted thirty grand in cash before handing over the keys.
- five grand
- ten grand
- a grand
- twenty grand
Grammar Patterns
number + grand
a grand
Usage Note
Always follows a number (or 'a') — you cannot say 'I have grand' to mean 'I have a thousand.' The plural is unchanged: 'five grand' not 'five grands.' Used in both British (£) and American ($) contexts; readers infer the currency from context.
Common Mistakes
2. a short, informal way of referring to a grand piano — a large type of piano with
a short, informal way of referring to a grand piano — a large type of piano with horizontal strings, used especially in concerts and formal music settings.
Kenji practised on the school's grand every afternoon before the concert.
informal shortening: 'the grand' = the grand piano
A black grand stood in the corner of the restaurant, but nobody played it that evening.
Christopher saved money for years to buy a baby grand for his living room.
compound: baby grand (smaller type of grand piano)
The music teacher tuned the grand herself before the students began their recital.
- baby grand
- play the grand
- black grand
- tune the grand
- grand piano
the full, formal name
- baby grand
a smaller variant of the grand piano
- upright piano
a smaller piano with vertical strings
Grammar Patterns
play the grand
a grand
Usage Note
Less common than 'grand piano' in writing but frequent in spoken music contexts. 'Baby grand' refers to a smaller type of grand piano. Do not use 'grand' alone to mean 'upright piano' or 'electronic keyboard.'
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/2
All four words describe something visually or conceptually impressive, but they emphasise different qualities. 'Grand' is the broadest term, covering any combination of size, beauty, and cost — a grand staircase, a grand plan. 'Majestic' adds a sense of stately dignity and is used most often for natural scenery (a majestic mountain range) or large buildings with noble proportions. 'Magnificent' leans toward rich beauty and craftsmanship, such as a magnificent cathedral or a magnificent jewel. 'Splendid' is common in British English and focuses on brilliance and visual impact — a splendid view or a splendid outfit. 'Imposing' is the most neutral and slightly intimidating: an imposing building makes you feel small, whether or not you admire its beauty. For everyday conversation about a house, party, or view, 'grand' or 'splendid' are most natural; for formal description of a palace or landscape, 'majestic' or 'magnificent' work better.
Common collocations
Nouns
- grand scale
- grand manner
- grand style
Adverbs
- truly grand
- really grand
- absolutely grand
- quite grand
Phrases
- on a grand scale
- in grand style
- put on grand airs
Etymology
The word 'grand' entered English from Old French 'grant' (meaning large or tall), which in turn came from Latin 'grandis' (meaning large, full-grown, or great). In Latin, 'grandis' could describe physical size, age ('grandis natu' — advanced in years), or importance. The sense of 'excellent' (sense 4) emerged in 19th-century colloquial British English, while the noun uses for 'thousand' (sense 1) and 'grand piano' (sense 2) developed much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun