largest
largest — adjective
1. greater than most others of its kind in physical size, amount, or number — for e
greater than most others of its kind in physical size, amount, or number — for example, the biggest lake on a continent or the highest number of people at an event.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in North America by surface area.
the largest + noun + in [place]
Minho asked the baker to cut him the largest slice of the chocolate cake.
the largest + countable noun (physical size)
China has the largest population of any country in the world.
The festival drew its largest crowd ever after the new bridge opened.
Of all the islands Soraya visited, Hokkaido felt by far the largest.
- biggest
everyday equivalent; slightly more informal in tone
- greatest
leans toward importance or quality, not raw size
- most extensive
formal; emphasises area covered
用法筆記
Almost always preceded by 'the' or a possessive (her largest, our largest). Distinguish from sense 2 (broadest scope) by asking whether the comparison is physical/numeric — if yes, this sense.
常見錯誤
2. covering the widest range of activities, areas, or responsibilities, rather than
covering the widest range of activities, areas, or responsibilities, rather than the biggest in raw size — used of things like programmes, studies, or operations that reach the furthest.
The charity runs the largest literacy programme across rural villages in Kenya.
the largest + activity noun (scope, not size)
Dario's team launched the largest survey of small farmers ever attempted in Italy.
the largest + research-method noun + ever attempted
This is the largest rescue operation the coast guard has ever organised in winter.
Valentina manages the largest training scheme for new nurses in the region.
- most comprehensive
stresses covering everything relevant
- most extensive
wider area or longer duration
- broadest
stresses range of types included
- most limited
narrowest in scope or reach
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (BIG IN SIZE): here the noun is typically an activity, programme, or operation, and the comparison is about breadth of reach rather than physical magnitude.
3. having the strongest effect or holding the most prominent position among similar
having the strongest effect or holding the most prominent position among similar things — for example, the most powerful trading partner of a country or the most popular video on a platform.
Germany is the largest trading partner for many countries in central Europe.
largest + relationship noun (influence emphasis)
Asher's song became the largest hit on streaming platforms last summer.
the largest hit (popularity / impact sense)
Solar panels are now the largest source of new electricity worldwide.
Climate change is the largest challenge facing Cyrus and his generation.
- most important
neutral, very wide use
- most powerful
emphasises strength of effect
- leading
common in business/news contexts
- smallest
least influential or important
- least significant
formal opposite
用法筆記
Subject is usually an abstract noun (challenge, source, hit, influence) rather than a physical object. If you can swap 'most important' or 'most powerful' and the meaning holds, this sense fits.
largest — verb
1. to enjoy yourself a lot at a party or club, usually by dancing energetically and
to enjoy yourself a lot at a party or club, usually by dancing energetically and drinking alcohol — almost always seen in the fixed phrase 'larging it'.
Christopher spent his birthday weekend larging it at clubs all over Manchester.
larging it (fixed informal phrase)
Esme and her cousins were larging it on the dance floor until dawn.
be + larging it (progressive form)
After their final exams, Vikram's whole class went larging it in town.
The footballers were caught larging it at a beach club the night before the match.
- partying
general informal term, less specifically British
- living it up
wider — covers any enjoyable splurge, not only clubbing
文法句型
be larging it
用法筆記
Only sense for the verb form; appears almost exclusively in the progressive with 'it' as the object — 'larging it'. Standalone 'to large' is not normal English.
常見錯誤
largest — adverb
1. in sailing, with the wind blowing from behind the side of the boat — a course th
in sailing, with the wind blowing from behind the side of the boat — a course that lets the sails fill easily and the vessel run fast.
With the breeze swinging round, Imani's yacht began to sail largest toward the harbour.
sail + largest (sailing direction)
The old fishing boat ran largest down the coast on calm summer evenings.
run largest (with the wind behind)
Captain Lucas told the crew they would make port quickly if they kept sailing largest.
By midday the schooner was finally sailing largest, with the canvas full and steady.
- before the wind
more common everyday sailing phrase with the same meaning
- into the wind
opposite direction relative to the sails
文法句型
sail + largest
用法筆記
Highly specialised sailing register; learners are very unlikely to need this productively. Almost always paired with 'sail' or 'run' as the verb.