Etymology Inherited from Northern Middle English big, bigge (“powerful, strong”), possibly from a dialect of Old Norse. Ultimately perhaps a derivative of Proto-Germanic *bugja- (“swollen up, thick”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bu- (“to swell”), in which case big would be related to bogey, bugbear, and bug. Compare dialectal Norwegian bugge (“great man”), Low German Bögge, Boggelmann.
The big houses, and there are a good many of them, lie for the most part in what may be called by courtesy the valleys. You catch a glimpse of them sometimes at a little distance from the [railway] line,[…], with their court of farm and church and clustered village, in dignified seclusion.1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter III, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:
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Investors face a quandary. Cash offers a return of virtually zero in many developed countries; government-bond yields may have risen in recent weeks but they are still unattractive. Equities have suffered two big bear markets since 2000 and are wobbling again. It is hardly surprising that pension funds, insurers and endowments are searching for new sources of return. […] When a company’s share price rises faster than the rest of the market, this means that it has a bigger weight in a traditional index.2013 July 6, “The rise of smart beta”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8843, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2020, page 68:
Out of the 484 Utah water systems that reported data in 2024, only 66 fluoridated their water, an Associated Press analysis showed. The largest was the state’s biggest city, Salt Lake City.2025 March 28, “Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water”, in CNN, sourced from Associated Press:
Figuratively, Sometimes Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.
She was big with child.
The Dawn is over-caſt, the Morning low’rs, And heavily in Clouds brings on the Day, The great, th’ important Day; big with the Fate Of Cato and of Rome.1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:
› Well-endowed; with a desired body part notably large.
Kids should get help from big people if they want to use the kitchen.
We were just playing, and then some big kids came and chased us away.
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She did it all on her own like a big girl.
By midnight, however, the last light had fled / For even big people have then gone to bed[.]1931, Robert L. May, Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Montgomery Ward (publisher), draft
Uh oh ... that looks like one of those things the big people don't want us to touch, Marvin!1998 April 12, Tom Armstrong, Marvin (comic):
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Informal, Rare, Slang, Of someone's age Old, mature. Used to imply that someone is too old for something, or acting immaturely.
I don't think so, if you're shouting at people across the playground at your big age.2020, Candice Carty-Williams, Notting Hill Carnival:
I tried to be the bigger person and just let it go, but I couldn't help myself.
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So the bloke says, 'Fine, that's real big of you, much appreciated,' and off he goes with Big John back to Ferrari's.2011, Joe Pieri, The Big Men, →ISBN:
"I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal. I never did that. I always made up my mind I'd be a big man some day, and—I'm glad I didn't steal."1909 September 9, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], chapter II, in The Squire’s Daughter, London: Methuen & Co. […], →OCLC:
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The great game of golf offered an antidote to the inevitable dead space — blocks of difficult-to-use hours, pre- and postflight — that are one of business travel’s biggest drags.2007 September 4, John Berg, “Time on the Greens Beats Time at the Gate”, in The New York Times:
It proved a big miss as Hoilett produced a sublime finish into the top corner of the net from 20 yards after evading a couple of challenges in first-half stoppage time.2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3-3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport:
"It's not about having a catchy strap line, it's about 'why do I come to work every day?' Am I just here to go 'your train is over there'? Or am I here to really influence that person's journey and therefore the perception of the organisation we're working for? There is a bigger picture to this - and that ultimately is what will keep people using our service."2023 January 25, Cem Davis tells Nick Brodrick, “A warm 'Waterloo family' welcome”, in RAIL, number 975, page 38:
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Popular.
That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.
Big in Japan, alright, pay then I'll sleep by your side / Things are easy when you're big in Japan1984, “Big in Japan”, in Forever Young, performed by Alphaville:
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Of a city Populous.
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Informal Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns
You are a big liar. Why are you in such a big hurry?
The little suggestions of look and tone; the easy fibs and bigger lies; the tricks of persuasion, the onleading wiles — all these I could not master.1918, Michael Williams, The Book of the High Romance: A Spiritual Autobiography, page 41:
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Why is it whenever I'm in a big hurry he's always in a big slow?2007 August 8, Tom Armstrong, Marvin (comic):
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Capitalized, Humorous, Often, Sometimes Operating on a large scale, especially if therefore having undue or sinister influence.
Or institution(s) therein Of an industry or other field
big money
Big Tech, Big Steel
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Big Science
There were concerns about the ethics of big pharma.
Why are you so enthusiastic about putting cantaloupe in your smoothie? Did Big Melon buy you off? [humorous]
After the Airblade’s launch, a battle began to boil, pitting the dryer industry against the world’s most powerful hand-drying lobby: Big Towel.2019 April 25, Samanth Subramanian, “Hand dryers v paper towels: the surprisingly dirty fight for the right to dry your hands”, in The Guardian:
Neville is big on standing by his principles and he deserves plaudits for acknowledging he got his starting system wrong, reverting to 4-2-3-1 and introducing Kirby in the No 10 role.2019 July 2, Louise Taylor, “Alex Morgan heads USA past England into Women’s World Cup final”, in The Guardian:
I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.
Etymology Inherited from Northern Middle English big, bigge (“powerful, strong”), possibly from a dialect of Old Norse. Ultimately perhaps a derivative of Proto-Germanic *bugja- (“swollen up, thick”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bu- (“to swell”), in which case big would be related to bogey, bugbear, and bug. Compare dialectal Norwegian bugge (“great man”), Low German Bögge, Boggelmann.
1
In a loud manner.
2
In a boasting manner.
He's always talking big, but he never delivers.
3
In a large amount or to a large extent.
He won big betting on the croquet championship.
Don't miss our November sale — it's your last chance to save big before Christmas!
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According to the Digital Marketing Institute, influencer marketing campaigns are paying off big for brands, generating roughly $5.78 for every dollar spent.2026 March 9, Cyrus Veyssi, “In Defense of Influencers”, in TIME, archived from the original on 14 Mar 2026:
I've always been big into sport, but I'm especially big into football.
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On a large scale, expansively.
You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.
'You've got to put it over big,' he was saying in a loud nasal voice.1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 3, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 25:
Etymology From Middle English biggen, byggen, from Old Norse byggja, byggva (“to build, dwell in, inhabit”), a secondary form of Old Norse búa (“to dwell”), related to Old English būan (“to dwell”). Cognate with Danish bygge, Swedish bygga.
Etymology Inherited from Northern Middle English big, bigge (“powerful, strong”), possibly from a dialect of Old Norse. Ultimately perhaps a derivative of Proto-Germanic *bugja- (“swollen up, thick”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bu- (“to swell”), in which case big would be related to bogey, bugbear, and bug. Compare dialectal Norwegian bugge (“great man”), Low German Bögge, Boggelmann.
1
Someone or something that is large in stature.
You could throw out everything else, but I had the speed to split double-teams. Like, go at double-teams numerous times in a possession, on consecutive possessions where I'm testing your endurance, your bigs.2019, Derrick Rose, Sam Smith, I'll Show You:
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An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.
3
In plural The big leagues, big time.
In the Appalachian League, where Cal Ripken once played in Bluefield, W.Va., a ballplayer's chances of making it to the bigs are less than one in six.2004 June 23, Michelle Boorstein, “Ballclub’s Pullout Caps Va. Town’s Run of Woes; Struggling Martinsville No Longer Celebrates Its Boys of Summer”, in Washington Post:
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An initiated member of a sorority or fraternity who acts as a mentor to a new member (the little).
University slang
He was there the night of Cristoph's party. All the littles were assigned to their bigs. Ian and Christoph had rushed the same fraternity. When they became upperclassmen, they both ended up on the board.2018, Kelly Ann Gonzales, Through an Opaque Window:
She added that the relationship between bigs and littles is "what each pair makes of it," and that a lot of the pairs often get dinner together and become close friends.2019 April 1, Audrey Steinkamp, “Sororities pair new members with "bigs"”, in Yale Daily News, archived from the original on 20 Feb 2026:
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Some traditions of the chapter include lineages with bigs and littles, receiving of paddles from a big, and a national stroll, Wolsch-Gallia said.2022 September 27, Shreya Varrier, “Gamma Rho Lambda provides LGBTQIA+ community in greek life”, in Iowa State Daily, archived from the original on 08 Feb 2023:
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The participant in age roleplay who acts out the older role.
big
noun
Etymology From Middle English byge, from Old Norse bygg (“barley, probably Hordeum vulgare, common barley”), from Proto-Germanic *bewwuz (“crop, barley”). Cognate with Old English bēow (“barley”).
The poor lass was sitting bemoaning herself - "Were it nae for thy girning face, I would knock the big, winnow the corn, and grun the meal," - "Lowse the cradle-band," said the child, "and tent the neighbours, and I'll work yere work." Up he started - the wind arose - the corn was chopped - the outlyers were foddered - the hand-mill moved around, as by instinct - and the knocking-mill did its work with amazing rapidity.1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 167: