great
/ɡreɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡreɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgrāt Southern also ˈgre(ə)t/ (ame, mw) · /ɡreɪt-/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡreɪt-/ (ame, ipa)
great — adjective
- greatpositive
- greatercomparative
- greatestsuperlative
1. very large in amount, size, or degree; used to emphasise the scale of something
very large in amount, size, or degree; used to emphasise the scale of something such as an amount, distance, difference, or level of effort.
There is a great difference between the temperature in summer and winter here.
great + [difference]
Soo-jin took great care when packing the ceramic bowls for shipping.
great + [care]
The team spent a great deal of time preparing for the competition.
We walked a great distance through the forest before reaching the lake.
文法句型
great + [amount/size noun]
用法筆記
Commonly pairs with abstract nouns referring to quantity, degree, or intensity (e.g. great care, great difficulty, great importance). For physical size of objects, 'big' or 'large' is more natural than 'great'.
常見錯誤
2. used as part of a name or title to show that a place, person, or thing is large,
used as part of a name or title to show that a place, person, or thing is large, important, or historically significant.
The Great Wall of China stretches over twenty thousand kilometres.
Great + [proper noun] in place names
Many tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef every year to see the coral and marine life.
文法句型
the Great + [place name / person name]
3. used in comparisons to indicate that the size, amount, or degree of one thing is
used in comparisons to indicate that the size, amount, or degree of one thing is greater than that of another; common in formal, academic, or statistical writing.
After three days of heavy rain, the water level in the Chao Phraya River was far greater than the seasonal average.
greater than + [comparison noun phrase]
The cost of repairing the old bridge was far greater than the town council had expected.
文法句型
greater + than + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Used mainly in formal, academic, or statistical writing. In everyday speech, 'bigger than' or 'larger than' is more common.
4. famous, powerful, or important within a particular field; widely recognised as o
famous, powerful, or important within a particular field; widely recognised as one of the best of a certain type.
Marie Curie is considered one of the greatest scientists of the modern era.
one of the greatest + [plural noun]
Kwame Nkrumah was a great leader in the movement for African independence.
文法句型
great + [person/achievement noun]
用法筆記
Often used with 'one of the' structure: 'one of the great/greatest [field] of [time period]'. Can describe living or historical figures.
5. very strong or extreme in degree; used with nouns that describe feelings, condit
very strong or extreme in degree; used with nouns that describe feelings, conditions, or states to intensify their meaning.
The family watched the news with great sadness after the earthquake.
great + [emotion noun]
The young pianist performed with great confidence in front of the audience.
There was great excitement among the children when the magician arrived.
The firefighters showed great courage when they entered the burning building.
- extreme
stronger, suggests the highest possible degree
- immense
suggests vastness beyond ordinary measurement
- tremendous
emphasises surprising intensity
文法句型
great + [abstract noun of emotion/state]
用法筆記
Typically pairs with abstract nouns related to emotion (great joy, great fear), effort (great effort), or quality (great beauty). Does not normally combine with concrete nouns — say 'very hot' not 'great heat' in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
6. extremely good in quality or enjoyable; used informally to express strong approv
extremely good in quality or enjoyable; used informally to express strong approval or satisfaction with something.
The sushi at that little restaurant near the station is really great.
[subject] + be + great — predicative use
Haruto recommended a great book about Japanese history — I finished it in two days.
We had a great time at the beach yesterday — the weather was perfect.
Aunt Rosa makes a great chocolate cake for every family celebration.
文法句型
great + [noun]
[subject] + be + great
用法筆記
This is the most common everyday meaning of 'great' in informal English. It is stronger than 'good' but less intense than 'amazing' or 'fantastic'. In British English, 'brilliant' is a common synonym. Avoid using this sense in very formal writing.
常見錯誤
7. said as an exclamation when you are satisfied, pleased, or relieved about someth
said as an exclamation when you are satisfied, pleased, or relieved about something, or to show enthusiastic agreement with a plan or decision.
"I managed to get tickets for the concert tonight!" "Great! I'll pick you up at seven."
standalone exclamation showing enthusiasm
"The weather forecast says sunshine all weekend." "Oh, great! We can finally go hiking."
Aunt Rosa heard that the package had arrived and said, "Great — now I can finish the decorations."
文法句型
Great! + [independent clause]
That's great!
用法筆記
Spoken with a cheerful, rising intonation. In writing, often followed by an exclamation mark. Can also be phrased as 'That's great!' or 'That would be great!' to respond to suggestions.
8. said sarcastically to show annoyance, disappointment, or frustration about somet
said sarcastically to show annoyance, disappointment, or frustration about something unwelcome.
"The train is delayed by two hours." "Oh, great. Just what I needed today."
sarcastic 'Oh, great' + ironic follow-up
Fatima looked at the flat tyre and muttered, "Great. Now I'll be late for the interview."
"The printer ran out of ink right before the deadline." "Great — that's perfect timing."
文法句型
Oh, great! + [unwelcome news]
Great! [sarcastic tone]
用法筆記
Delivered with a flat or falling intonation, clearly different from the cheerful sense. Often paired with an ironic follow-up statement ('just what I needed', 'perfect timing'). Learners should be careful — using this sarcastic sense with the wrong tone may confuse listeners.
常見錯誤
great — adverb
1. used before an adjective to emphasise its meaning; it makes the following word s
used before an adjective to emphasise its meaning; it makes the following word stronger.
That is a great big house on top of the hill — you can see it from miles away.
great big + [noun] — colloquial intensifier
A great long queue of people was waiting outside the stadium when we arrived.
文法句型
great + [adjective]
great + [adverb]
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrases 'great big', 'great long', and occasionally 'great many'. Not productive — you cannot freely add 'great' before any adjective (*'great small', *'great hot'). This is a colloquial, informal intensifier.
常見錯誤
great — noun
- greatsingular
- greatsplural
1. a person who is famous and highly accomplished in a particular area of activity,
a person who is famous and highly accomplished in a particular area of activity, such as sports, music, literature, or science.
The gallery is showing works by the greats of modern art, including Picasso and Kandinsky.
the greats of + [field]
Many young tennis players dream of becoming one of the all-time greats of the sport.
This biography examines the lives of the literary greats of the nineteenth century.
- unknown
someone not famous
文法句型
the greats of + [field]
[field] + greats
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural form 'greats' or in the fixed phrase 'the greats'. Singular use ('He is a great') is possible but less common and more informal.
常見錯誤
great — prefix
1. a prefix added before a family term (such as aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmoth
a prefix added before a family term (such as aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother) to indicate being one generation further away from that relative.
My great-grandmother lived to be ninety-seven and taught me how to bake bread.
great-grandmother = grandparent's grandmother
Omar's great-aunt sent him a postcard from her trip to Morocco.
The family tree shows my great-uncle on my mother's side, who emigrated to Canada in 1920.
文法句型
great- + [family member term]
用法筆記
Can be repeated to indicate multiple generations: great-grandfather (2 generations back), great-great-grandfather (3 generations back), etc. Also works sidewards for aunts/uncles: great-aunt means the aunt of one's parent.