major
/ˈmeɪdʒə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪdʒər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmā-jər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmeɪ.dʒər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪ.dʒɚ/ (ame, ipa)
major — adjective
- majorpositive
- more majorcomparative
- most majorsuperlative
1. extremely large in size, importance, or effect — used to describe things that ma
extremely large in size, importance, or effect — used to describe things that matter a great deal, such as a major decision, a major problem, a major city, or a major change.
The company faces a major financial crisis after losing its biggest client.
attributive: major + noun (crisis)
Hari had to make a major decision about whether to move to Japan for work.
A major earthquake struck the region, causing widespread damage to buildings.
The difference in price is not major, so choosing the cheaper option makes sense.
- significant
less emotionally charged; used for measurable effects or data
- serious
emphasises danger or negative consequences rather than size
- critical
suggests urgency and risk of failure
- substantial
focuses on size or amount rather than importance
文法句型
major + noun
be + major
用法筆記
Use this sense for things that are notably big or consequential. It is stronger than 'important' — a major problem is one that threatens to cause serious harm. Frequently followed by nouns like 'change', 'issue', 'role', 'factor'.
常見錯誤
2. describing a type of musical scale, key, or chord that most people hear as cheer
describing a type of musical scale, key, or chord that most people hear as cheerful, bright, or uplifting — for example, a major key tends to sound happier than a minor key.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 is written in A major and feels energetic and joyful.
pattern: in + [note] + major
The song shifts from a sad minor key to a bright major key during the chorus.
contrast: major vs minor key
Mizuki is learning to play a C major scale on the piano for her first exam.
The choir sang a joyful piece written in F major on Sunday morning.
- minor
the opposite musical quality, typically described as sad or dark
文法句型
major + noun (key, scale, chord, third)
用法筆記
Always appears before a musical noun: major key, major scale, major chord, major third. The opposite is 'minor'. In music theory, a major scale has a specific pattern of whole and half steps that gives it a bright character.
常見錯誤
3. describing the highest level of North American professional team sports such as
describing the highest level of North American professional team sports such as baseball — these leagues feature the best players and attract the largest live audiences.
Caleb dreamed of playing Major League baseball ever since he was a child.
proper noun: Major League + sport
The team was promoted from a minor league to a major league after winning the championship.
contrast: minor league → major league
Major League teams travel across the country for away games during the season.
Fans lined up for hours to buy tickets for the major league play-off game.
- top-tier
broader use, not limited to North American sports leagues
- minor-league
the lower-level leagues that serve as development systems
文法句型
Major League + noun
major-league + noun
用法筆記
Often capitalised as 'Major League' when referring to the official North American organisations (MLB, NHL). The hyphenated form 'major-league' can also be used informally as an adjective meaning 'top-level' or 'first-rate'.
major — noun
- majorsingular
- majorsplural
1. a person holding the military rank that lies between captain and lieutenant colo
a person holding the military rank that lies between captain and lieutenant colonel in land, air, and marine service branches.
Major Obi was awarded a medal for leading his unit through enemy territory.
title before surname: Major + [name]
The major ordered the soldiers to set up camp before nightfall.
countable: the + major
After eight years of service, Captain Sumin was promoted to major.
The retired major now teaches military history at a local college.
文法句型
a/the + major
Major + surname (as title)
用法筆記
When used as a title before a name, 'Major' is capitalised (e.g. Major Hassan). As a common noun describing the rank, it is lowercase. The rank exists in the UK, US, and many other armed forces.
常見錯誤
2. the primary subject a person chooses to concentrate on at a university, or a lea
the primary subject a person chooses to concentrate on at a university, or a learner focused on that subject — a history major, for instance, is someone whose main academic focus is history.
Vikram chose computer science as his major because he wanted to work in software.
pattern: [subject] as one's major
Brooke is a biology major who plans to attend medical school after graduation.
pattern: [subject] + major (student)
What is your major — business, engineering, or something else?
The university offers over forty different majors for undergraduate students to choose from.
- field of study
more formal and general; not limited to American university system
- specialisation
used in British English for the focused area within a degree
- minor
a secondary subject studied with less depth than the major
文法句型
a + major + in + [subject]
[subject] + major
用法筆記
This sense is primarily used in US and Canadian English. In British English, the equivalent term is usually 'course' or 'degree programme'. To describe someone studying a subject, the British say 'a history student', not 'a history major'.
常見錯誤
3. one of the most important professional competitions in a sport, especially golf
one of the most important professional competitions in a sport, especially golf or tennis — winning a major is the highest achievement in that sport.
Winning all four tennis majors in a single year is called a Grand Slam.
collocation: win a major
Joaquín finished second at the US Open golf major last year.
sport + major
The four tennis majors are the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Winning a golf major can change a player's career and earnings overnight.
- championship
broader term; not every championship is a major, but all majors are championships
- Grand Slam event
specifically used for the four major tennis tournaments
文法句型
win/play + a major
the + [number] + majors
用法筆記
In golf, the four majors are the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open Championship (British Open). In tennis, the four majors make up the Grand Slam events. The word is also used for major tournaments in bowling and some other sports.
4. the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, cons
the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of the American League and the National League, where the best players compete.
After three seasons in the minor leagues, Eli finally made it to the majors.
collocation: make it to the majors
The player hit over forty home runs in his first year in the majors.
preposition: in the majors
Very few baseball players get the chance to play in the majors for more than a few seasons.
The young pitcher hopes to reach the majors before his twenty-first birthday.
- Major League Baseball
the official name of the organisation that operates the majors
- the big leagues
informal synonym, also used figuratively outside sports
- the minors
the lower-level professional leagues that develop players for the majors
文法句型
the majors
play in the majors
make it to the majors
用法筆記
Often capitalised as 'the Majors'. The singular 'major' is less common — speakers typically say 'the majors' or 'Major League Baseball' (MLB). This sense overlaps partly with the adjective sense 'major league' but functions as a noun referring to the league itself.
major — verb
- majorpresent simple I / you / we / they
- majors3rd person singular
- majoring-ing form
- majoredpast simple
1. to study a particular subject as the main focus of your university degree — for
to study a particular subject as the main focus of your university degree — for example, if you major in economics, economics takes up most of your course credits.
Meera decided to major in environmental science after volunteering at a national park.
pattern: major in + [subject]
Christopher majored in philosophy as an undergraduate before studying law.
past tense: majored in
Students who major in engineering must take many mathematics and physics courses.
What do you plan to major in when you go to university next year?
- specialise in
used in British English and for postgraduate studies; broader than 'major in'
文法句型
major in + [subject]
用法筆記
Always followed by 'in + subject name'. The object of study cannot come directly after 'major' — you cannot say 'major economics', only 'major in economics'. This is primarily US and Canadian usage; British English uses 'study' or 'read' instead.
常見錯誤
major — idiom
1. Sir John Major (born 1943) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1
Sir John Major (born 1943) served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1990 to 1997, succeeding Margaret Thatcher and leading the Conservative Party.
Sir John Major was the Prime Minister who signed the Maastricht Treaty for the UK.
historical figure reference
During Sir John Major's term, the UK experienced an economic downturn in the early 1990s.
Sir John Major became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher left office in 1990.
Sir John Major was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process in the 1990s.