What is great? Pronunciation and usage in English

great means . Learn the correct pronunciation, how to use the word in real-life contexts with examples and easy-to-understand memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of great

greatadjective

/ɡreɪt/
Definition & pronunciation of great

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "great" in English. There are a couple of common variations, but here's the most widely accepted pronunciation:

The most common pronunciation (General American):

  • ˈɡreɪt (stress on the first syllable)

Let's break it down syllable by syllable:

  1. ˈɡr - This sounds like "gr" as in "green." The "r" is subtle and a bit of a flap – it’s not a strong, rolled "r."
  2. eɪ - This is the "ay" sound, like in "say," "day," or "late." It’s a diphthong (meaning it has a glide between two vowel sounds).
  3. t - Just a simple "t" sound.

A slightly more British pronunciation:

  • ɡreɪt (stress on the first syllable, and a less pronounced "r")

In British English, the "r" is often less prominent, and the vowel sound can be a bit shorter and more closed.

Resources to help you hear it:

Tips:

  • Focus on the "ay" sound: This is the key to getting it right.
  • Don't over-emphasize the "r": It's a quick, subtle sound.

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you learning English (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia)? (This helps me tell you which pronunciation is more common where you are.)

Usage and examples with the word great in English

Let's break down how to use the word "great" effectively in English. It's a wonderfully versatile word, but it can be tricky to use correctly. Here's a breakdown of its different uses and how to incorporate it into your speech and writing:

1. As an Adjective (Most Common)

  • Meaning: This is the most frequent way to use "great." It means excellent, wonderful, good, impressive, or significant.
  • Examples:
    • "That was a great movie!" (Excellent)
    • "She is a great teacher." (Wonderful)
    • "He did a great job on the presentation." (Impressive)
    • "It’s a great opportunity." (Significant)
    • "I had a great time at the party." (Good)

2. As an Interjection

  • Meaning: Used to express excitement, enthusiasm, or surprise. It's similar to "Wow!" or "Fantastic!"
  • Examples:
    • "Great! You’re here!" (Expressing happiness)
    • "Great! That's exactly what I needed." (Expressing relief/satisfaction)
    • "Great! Let’s go!" (Expressing enthusiasm)

3. As a Verb (Less Common – Usually with "Do")

  • Meaning: To achieve something remarkable or notable. It often implies overcoming a challenge.
  • Examples:
    • "She greated success in her new role." (She achieved success)
    • "He greated an escape from the prison." (He managed an escape)
    • “They greated a breakthrough in the research." (They made a significant advance.)
  • Note: "Do great" is a common, informal expression meaning "do something well." “He does great at soccer.”

4. Phrasal Verbs with “Great”

  • "Greatly": Used as an adverb to intensify the meaning of a verb.

    • "He was greatly impressed by the performance." (He was very impressed)
    • "The news made her greatly happy." (She was very happy)

  • "Make great": To make a strong impression, to be very important.

    • “He made a great impression on the interviewer.” (He made a good impression)
    • “This is a great achievement.” (This is a significant achievement).

Important Considerations and Nuances:

  • Overuse: "Great" is a common word, and it’s easy to overuse it. Sometimes, a more specific adjective (e.g., excellent, wonderful, superb, fantastic) will make your writing or speech stronger.

  • Tone: As an interjection, "great" can sound a bit casual or even slightly cliché if used too often.

  • Context: Pay attention to the context to ensure you're using "great" correctly. Is it describing quality, expressing excitement, or indicating accomplishment?

Here's a quick table to summarise:

Usage Part of Speech Meaning Example
Quality Adjective Excellent, good, impressive "That's a great idea!"
Excitement Interjection Wow! Fantastic! "Great! Let’s do it!"
Accomplishment Verb (with “do”) To achieve remarkably “He greated a solution to the problem.”
Intensification Adverb Very “She was greatly pleased.”

To help me tailor advice to you, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you trying to use "great" in? (e.g., writing a story, giving a presentation, talking with friends?)

Synonyms for the word great

Idioms of the word great

be going great guns
(informal)to be doing something quickly and successfully
  • Work is going great guns now.
be greater/more than the sum of its parts
to be better or more effective as a group than you would think just by looking at the individual members of the group
  • The team is greater than the sum of its parts.
be a great one for (doing) something
to do something a lot; to enjoy something
  • He's never been a great one for keeping in touch.
  • You're a great one for quizzes, aren't you?
be no great shakes
(informal)to be not very good, efficient, suitable, etc.
    a good/great deal (of something)
    much; a lot
    • She's feeling a good deal better.
    • We don't see them a great deal (= often) these days.
    • They spent a great deal of money.
    • A good deal of research has been done on the subject.
    the great and the good
    people who are very successful, admired and respected
    • Universities around the world award honorary degrees to the great and the good.
    great and small
    of all sizes or types
    • all creatures great and small
    the great… in the sky
    (humorous)used to refer to where a particular person is imagined to go when they die or a thing when it is no longer working, similar to the place they were connected with on earth
    • Their pet rabbit had gone to the great rabbit hutch in the sky.
    great minds think alike
    (informal, humorous)used to say that you and another person must both be very clever because you have had the same idea or agree about something
      great/tall oaks from little acorns grow
      (saying)something large and successful often begins in a very small way
        take (great) pains (to do something) | go to great pains (to do something)
        to put a lot of effort into doing something
        • The couple went to great pains to keep their plans secret.
        take (great) pains with/over something
        to do something very carefully
        • He always takes great pains with his lectures.

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