Large is an adjective meaning of great size, extent, or capacity. It describes something that is above average in physical dimensions, quantity, or scope — for example, a large house, a large amount of money, or a large organisation.
What Does Large Mean?
Large comes from Old French large (broad, wide) and ultimately from Latin largus (abundant, generous). It entered English in the 12th century following the Norman Conquest. The same Latin root gives us largesse (generosity) and the musical direction largo (slow and broad).
In modern English, large is one of the core adjectives for describing size. It sits in a scale between big and huge, and is generally more formal and measurable than big. You are more likely to see large in academic writing, journalism, and business contexts: a large proportion, a large-scale study, a large corporation.
The word also appears in several important fixed expressions: at large (free, or in general), by and large (on the whole), and larger than life (unusually vivid or impressive). These idioms are very common in spoken and written British English. See Cambridge Dictionary's full entry on “large” for more examples.
Example Sentences (A2–C1)
| Sentence | Level & usage note |
|---|---|
| They live in a large house with a beautiful garden. | A2 — attributive adjective before noun; everyday physical size |
| A large number of students attended the workshop. | B1 — collocation: large number of; describing quantity |
| The room felt suddenly large and empty after everyone had left the party. | B1 — predicative use after linking verb; emotional contrast |
| The company operates on a large scale, with offices in fourteen countries. | B2 — compound modifier: large-scale; formal/business register |
| By and large, the reforms have been welcomed by the general public, though a large proportion of economists remain sceptical. | C1 — idiom: by and large; collocation: large proportion; formal written English |
Common Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| large number (of) | A large number of people attended the concert. |
| large amount (of) | She donated a large amount of money to charity. |
| large scale / large-scale | The investigation was conducted on a large scale. |
| large proportion (of) | A large proportion of the workforce works from home. |
| large majority | The bill passed with a large majority in Parliament. |
| large part (of) | For the large part, the students were well prepared. |
| large quantity (of) | Police seized a large quantity of counterfeit goods. |
| at large | The escaped prisoner is still at large. |
| by and large | By and large, it was a successful event. |
| larger than life | She has a larger-than-life personality that fills every room. |
Etymology
Old French large (broad, wide, 13th century) ← Latin largus (abundant, generous, copious). The word entered Middle English in the 12th century following the Norman Conquest. The original Latin sense of "generous" survives in the literary noun largesse (generous bestowal of gifts or money). The musical direction largo (very slow, broad in tempo) shares the same root. Related English derivatives: enlarge, largely, largish.
Usage Notes — Formal vs Informal
Register Guide
In academic and business writing, large is nearly always preferable to big. In everyday speech, both are natural, but big often feels warmer and more emotional while large feels more factual.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
It was a very large big house. (do not stack large and big — they mean the same thing)
It was a very large house. / It was a very big house.
A large amount of students were absent. (use number, not amount, with countable nouns)
A large number of students were absent.
She has a large hair. (large is not used with non-gradable physical features — use long, thick, or big)
She has long hair. / She has a big smile.
Related Words
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Frequently Asked Questions about “large”
What does large mean in English?
Large is an adjective meaning of great size, extent, or capacity. It describes something that is bigger than average in physical dimensions ('a large room'), quantity ('a large number of people'), or scope ('a large organisation'). It is one of the most common adjectives in everyday English.
What is the difference between large and big?
Large and big both mean of great size, but they differ in register. Big is more informal and emotional ('a big problem', 'big news'), while large is more neutral and precise ('a large quantity', 'large-scale research'). In formal writing, large is generally preferred. Big is rarely used in academic or professional contexts.
What is the difference between large and great?
Large refers to physical size or measurable extent. Great can also mean very large, but it carries an additional sense of importance or intensity ('a great loss', 'a great achievement'). You would say 'a large building' but 'a great occasion'. Great is more formal and more emphatic than large.
How do you use large in a sentence?
Large is used directly before a noun ('a large garden', 'a large amount') or after a linking verb ('the house is large'). Common patterns include: large + noun ('a large crowd'), verb + large ('loom large', 'bulk large'), and at large ('the criminal is still at large').
What are common collocations with large?
Common collocations with large include: large number, large amount, large scale, large proportion, large majority, large company, large family, large screen, by and large, at large, larger than life, and large-scale. These fixed phrases appear frequently in both spoken and written English.
What is the comparative and superlative of large?
The comparative form is larger and the superlative is largest. For example: 'This room is larger than the other one.' / 'It was the largest crowd I had ever seen.' Because large ends in a silent -e, you simply add -r and -st without doubling the consonant.
What does 'at large' mean?
'At large' has two main meanings. First, free and not caught — used about criminals or dangerous animals: 'The suspect is still at large.' Second, as a whole or in general — used about society or a community: 'The decision affects society at large.' Both uses are common in formal English and journalism.
What does 'by and large' mean?
'By and large' is an idiom meaning on the whole or in general. For example: 'By and large, the project was a success.' It is used to summarise a general impression or conclusion. The phrase originally comes from sailing terminology (nautical English) and dates back to the 17th century.
What is the origin of the word large?
Large comes from Old French 'large' meaning broad or wide, which in turn derived from Latin 'largus' meaning abundant, generous, or plentiful. It entered English in the 12th century via the Norman French influence after 1066. The Latin root 'largus' also gives us 'largesse', meaning generosity or a generous gift.
How can I practise using large in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise large in context alongside similar adjectives like big, huge, and vast. Use the Flash Cards tool to test adjective vocabulary at your level, or try the Vocabulary Quiz to check collocations such as 'large number', 'large scale', and 'by and large'.