a large capacity

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a large capacity" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the ability of a container, device, or system to hold or manage a significant amount of something. Example: "The new storage unit has a large capacity, making it ideal for keeping all our supplies organized."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

"Also, there are bigger veins with a large capacity to pool blood in your legs".

The New York Times - Health

Sondheim says he has always had "a large capacity for alcohol," and I don't dispute it.

The New York Times - Magazine

When you're 17, with a large capacity for awe, and your heroes let you down, it can make you twitchy.

The New York Times

Knife rolls, he pointed out, are also compact: "They have a large capacity, but then they fold up".

The New York Times

"If we end up with a large number of people coming, then a large capacity will be put in Papua New Guinea," he said.

The Guardian

A chief whip, according to Herbert Asquith, must have a large capacity for self-assertion and an even larger capacity for self-effacement.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Mr. Manso was charged with "possession of a large-capacity firearm" for the assault rifle.

The New York Times - Books

ShinMaywa Industries, for instance, is in talks to sell a large-capacity seaplane, the US-2, to the Indian Navy.

The New York Times

The city has wide avenues and attractive parks as well as a large-capacity football (soccer) stadium.

Encyclopedia Britannica

My own personal and immediate reaction, though, was to take a large-capacity ammo clip and pound it down with a hammer.

The New York Times

Eight months later, the lab lost track of nine floppy disks and a large-capacity storage disk, all with classified information, a disclosure that brought the laboratory to a more limited stand-down.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair this phrase with 'for' when describing an abstract quality, such as "a large capacity for empathy" or "a large capacity for work".

Common error

Avoid using "a large capacity" when you actually mean high speed or high performance. Capacity refers specifically to the amount something can hold or the potential it has, not necessarily how fast it operates. For instance, a hard drive might have "a large capacity" but slow read speeds.

Linguistic Context

As a noun phrase, "a large capacity" typically functions as the direct object of a verb (e.g., "have", "show", "provide") or as the object of a preposition. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often quantifies the potential of a system or an individual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "a large capacity" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to denote significant volume or potential. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across diverse fields, ranging from high-level scientific research regarding battery storage and data management to journalistic accounts of human traits and physical infrastructure. Whether you are writing a technical report for ScienceDirect or a feature article for The New York Times, this phrase provides a clear and professional way to describe magnitude. For more technical contexts, alternatives like "a high capacity" may be more appropriate, but "a large capacity" remains the standard for general and abstract descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a high capacity

often preferred in technical or engineering contexts like battery life or data processing

a significant capacity

adds a layer of importance or weight to the amount being described

a substantial capacity

more formal and emphasizes the solidity or quantity of the volume

a vast capacity

suggests a much larger, almost boundless scale

an ample capacity

implies that the capacity is more than sufficient for the required task

a great capacity

often used for abstract traits such as a great capacity for love or learning

an immense capacity

provides stronger emphasis on the sheer magnitude of the volume

a massive capacity

less formal and emphasizes physical size or extreme volume

a considerable capacity

suggests a noteworthy amount that warrants attention

an extensive capacity

focuses on the range or the reach of the capability

FAQs

How do I use "a large capacity" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical space or abstract traits. For example: "The stadium has "a large capacity" for spectators" or "He has "a large capacity" for learning new languages".

What is the difference between a large capacity and a high capacity?

While often interchangeable, "a high capacity" is more frequent in technical descriptions of electronics and performance, whereas "a large capacity" is common for physical storage and human traits.

What are some synonyms for "a large capacity"?

Common alternatives include "a significant capacity", "a vast capacity", or "a substantial capacity".

Can I use "a large capacity" for abstract concepts?

Yes, Ludwig shows many examples where the phrase describes human emotions or intellectual potential, such as "a large capacity for awe" or "a large capacity for alcohol".