Big vs. Little

Big vs. Little — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Big and Little

Bigadjective

Of great size, large.

Elephants are big animals, and they eat a lot.

Littleadjective

Small in size.

This is a little table.

Bigadjective

(of an industry or other field) Thought to have undue influence.

There were concerns about the ethics of big science.

Littleadjective

Insignificant, trivial.

It's of little importance.

Bigadjective

Popular.

That style is very big right now in Europe, especially among teenagers.

Littleadjective

(offensive) Used to belittle a person.

Listen up, you little shit.
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Bigadjective

(informal) Adult.

Kids should get help from big people if they want to use the kitchen.

Littleadjective

Very young.

Did he tell you any embarrassing stories about when she was little?That's the biggest little boy I've ever seen.

Bigadjective

(informal) Fat.

Gosh, she is big!

Littleadjective

(of a sibling) Younger.

This is my little sister.

Bigadjective

(informal) Important or significant.

What's so big about that? I do it all the time.

Littleadjective

Used with the name of place, especially of a country, to denote a neighborhood whose residents or storekeepers are from that place.

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Bigadjective

Enthusiastic (about).

I'm not big on the idea, but if you want to go ahead with it, I won't stop you.

Littleadjective

Small in amount or number, having few members.

little money;little herd

Bigadjective

of (informal) Mature, conscientious, principled; generous.

That's very big of you, thank you!I tried to be the bigger person and just let it go, but I couldn't help myself.

Littleadjective

Short in duration; brief.

I feel better after my little sleep.

Bigadjective

(informal) Well-endowed, possessing large breasts in the case of a woman or a large penis in the case of a man.

Whoa, Nadia has gotten pretty big since she hit puberty.

Littleadjective

Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow; shallow; contracted; mean; illiberal; ungenerous.

Bigadjective

Large with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or produce.

She was big with child.

Littleadverb

Not much.

This is a little known fact.She spoke little and listened less.

Bigadjective

(informal) Used as an intensifier, especially of negative-valence nouns

You are a big liar.Why are you in such a big hurry?

Littleadverb

Not at all.

I was speaking ill of Fred; little did I know that he was right behind me, listening in.

Bigadjective

(of a city) populous

Littledeterminer

Not much, only a little: only a small amount (of).

There is little water left.We had very little to do.

Bigadverb

In a loud manner.

Littlepronoun

Not much; not a large amount.

Little is known about his early life.

Bigadverb

In a boasting manner.

He's always talking big, but he never delivers.

Littlenoun

The participant in ageplay who acts out the younger role.

Bigadverb

In a large amount or to a large extent.

He won big betting on the croquet championship.

Littlenoun

a small amount or duration;

he accepted the little they gave him

Bigadverb

On a large scale, expansively.

You've got to think big to succeed at Amalgamated Plumbing.

Littleadjective

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent;

a little dining rooma little housea small cara little (or small) groupa small voice

Bigadverb

Hard.

He hit him big and the guy just crumpled.

Littleadjective

(quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with `a') at least some;

little rain fell in Maygave it little thoughtlittle hope remainedlittle time is leftwe still have little moneya little hope remaineda little time is left

Bignoun

Someone or something that is large in stature

Littleadjective

of short duration or distance;

a brief stay in the countryin a little whileit's a little way away

Bignoun

An important or powerful person; a celebrity; a big name.

Littleadjective

not fully grown;

what a big little boy you aresmall children

Bignoun

(as plural) The big leagues, big time.

Littleadjective

(informal terms) small and of little importance;

a fiddling sum of moneya footling gestureour worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at wara little (or small) matterMickey Mouse regulationsa dispute over niggling detailslimited to petty enterprisespiffling effortsgiving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction

Bignoun

One or more kinds of barley, especially six-rowed barley.

Littleadjective

(of a voice) faint;

a little voicea still small voice

Bigverb

(transitive) To praise, recommend, or promote.

Littleadjective

younger brother or sister;

little brother

Bigverb

to inhabit; occupy

Littleadjective

lowercase;

little asmall ae.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters

Bigverb

to locate oneself

Littleadjective

small in a way that arouses feelings (of tenderness or its opposite depending on the context);

a nice little jobbless your little heartmy dear little mothera sweet little dealI'm tired of your petty little schemesfilthy little trickswhat a nasty little situation

Bigverb

to build; erect; fashion

Littleadverb

not much;

he talked little about his family

Bigverb

to dwell; have a dwelling

Bigadjective

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent;

a large cityset out for the big citya large suma big (or large) barna large familybig businessesa big expenditurea large number of newspapersa big group of scientistslarge areas of the world

Bigadjective

significant;

graduation was a big day in his life

Bigadjective

of very great significance;

deciding to drop the atom bomb was a very big decisiona momentous event

Bigadjective

conspicuous in position or importance;

a big figure in the movementbig man on campushe's very large in financial circlesa prominent citizen

Bigadjective

very intense;

a bad headachein a big ragehad a big (or bad) shocka bad earthquakea bad storm

Bigadjective

loud and firm;

a big voicebig bold piano sounds

Bigadjective

prodigious;

big spenderbig eaterheavy investor

Bigadjective

(of animals) fully developed;

an adult animala grown woman

Bigadjective

marked by intense physical force;

a big wind

Bigadjective

feeling self-importance;

too big for his britcheshad a swelled headhe was swelled with pride

Bigadjective

older brother or sister;

big sister

Bigadjective

exhibiting self-importance;

big talk

Bigadjective

generous and understanding and tolerant;

a heart big enough to hold no grudgesthat's very big of you to be so forgivinga large and generous spirita large heartmagnanimous toward his enemies

Bigadjective

given or giving freely;

was a big tipperthe bounteous goodness of Godbountiful complimentsa freehanded hosta handsome allowanceSaturday's child is loving and givinga liberal backer of the artsa munificent gifther fond and openhanded grandfather

Bigadjective

in an advanced stage of pregnancy;

was big with childwas great with child

Bigadverb

extremely well;

his performance went over big

Bigadverb

in a boastful manner;

he talked big all evening

Bigadverb

on a grand scale;

think big

Bigadverb

in a major way;

the play failed big at the box office