Giant: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ‘น
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giant

 

[ หˆdส’aษชษ™nt ]

Noun / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Noun

mythical creature

A giant is a mythical creature of enormous size, typically human-like but much larger. Giants are often portrayed as aggressive and intimidating beings in folklore and mythology.

Synonyms

colossus, monster, titan.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
giant

Occurs here again, which likely is a repetition error. Refer to the first instance of 'giant'.

monster

Connotes a large or terrifying creature, often with a negative connotation. Can also describe something unusually large in a more negative sense.

  • The monster in the movie scared everyone.
  • That is a monster of a task, it will take forever.
titan

Usually describes someone or something extremely powerful or influential, often in a particular field. Can also imply strength and significance.

  • She is a titan in the world of technology.
  • The company's titans met to discuss the future strategy.
colossus

Refers to something or someone extremely large, often implying grandeur or awe-inspiring size. Generally positive and can often relate to statues or figures of importance.

  • The ancient colossus stood watch over the harbor.
  • He is a colossus in the world of finance.

Examples of usage

  • The giant in the story was so tall that he could touch the clouds.
  • Legends say that giants used to roam the earth in ancient times.
Context #2 | Noun

extremely large person or thing

In colloquial language, a giant can refer to an extremely large person or thing, often used metaphorically to emphasize the size or significance of something.

Synonyms

enormous, huge, massive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
giant

Giant often describes something remarkably large in size or stature and can also be used metaphorically to describe importance or influence.

  • The giant boulder blocked the entire road.
  • He is considered a giant in the field of medicine.
enormous

Enormous is used to emphasize the vast size of something. It often carries a sense of being overwhelmingly large.

  • The house was enormous, with ten bedrooms and a huge garden.
  • An enormous amount of effort was required to complete the project.
massive

Massive often implies something large and heavy or solid and tends to be used in contexts where the physical weight or impact of something is significant.

  • The massive stone pillars supported the ancient temple.
  • The company suffered a massive loss last year.
huge

Huge is a versatile term that can describe anything very large. It is commonly used in both formal and informal settings.

  • She received a huge bouquet of flowers on her birthday.
  • The new shopping mall is huge and has over 200 stores.

Examples of usage

  • She felt like a giant among the children, towering over them with her height.
  • The tech company is a giant in the industry, dominating the market with its innovative products.
Context #3 | Adjective

very large

When used as an adjective, 'giant' describes something that is very large in size or scale.

Synonyms

enormous, huge, massive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
giant

Best used to describe something extremely large, often emphasizing its height or size in a more mythical or figurative sense.

  • The city was dominated by a giant skyscraper.
  • He felt like a giant among men after winning the championship.
huge

Commonly used in casual speech to describe something very large or significant, without any formal or descriptive constraints.

  • They bought a huge house in the suburbs.
  • The new park is huge; you can spend hours exploring it.
enormous

Suitable for highlighting the vast size or quantity of something, usually in a more formal or descriptive context.

  • The company made an enormous profit this year.
  • The scientists discovered an enormous cave underground.
massive

Best for emphasizing something's substantial size, weight, or impact, often in a more forceful or impactful manner.

  • A massive boulder blocked the path.
  • The player made a massive impact in the game.

Examples of usage

  • The giant oak tree stood tall in the middle of the forest.
  • He took a giant leap forward in his career with the new promotion.

Translations

Translations of the word "giant" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น gigante

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคตเคฟเคถเคพเคฒเค•เคพเคฏ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Riese

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ raksasa

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะตะปะตั‚ะตะฝัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ gigant

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅทจๅคง

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท gรฉant

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ gigante

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท dev

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฑฐ์ธ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุนู…ู„ุงู‚

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ obr

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ obor

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅทจไบบ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ velikan

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ risi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะปั‹ะฟ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒšแƒ˜แƒแƒ—แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ nษ™hษ™ng

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ gigante

Etymology

The word 'giant' has its origins in the Old French word 'geant', which in turn came from the Latin word 'gigas' meaning 'giant'. The concept of giants has been present in mythology and folklore across various cultures, often representing strength, power, and sometimes chaos. Giants have been featured in ancient Greek, Norse, and Celtic myths, as well as in fairy tales and fantasy literature.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,610, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.