greatest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'greatest' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that is the best or most impressive of its kind. For example, "The greatest thing I've ever done is climb Mount Everest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nobel, a wealthy Swedish industrialist who invented dynamite, provided few directions for how to select winners, except that the prize committees should reward those who "have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind".

The Guardian

Charities and the non-government sector welcomed elements of Bishop's proposals, such as the focus on female involvement and performance benchmarks, but raised concern over the need to ensure benefits from "aid for trade" flowed to the people in greatest need and reduced poverty.

The Guardian

When the Labour leader said no, a lowing sound could be heard, the noise of an audience uniting in sceptical rejection of the man before them – a reminder that one of Miliband's greatest errors since 2010 was his failure to debunk the narrative that blames Labour profligacy for the country's fiscal troubles.

The Guardian

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard.

The Guardian

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing.

The Guardian

"'Obamacare' is the greatest expansion of federal power in the history of the country".

The Guardian

Investors' greatest fear now is lack of growth.

The Guardian - Business

Nine months later, though, the hopes of the club destined to become the greatest England had ever seen were destroyed in the slush on the runaway of Munich's old airport.

The Guardian - Sport

McParland can claim to be the greatest winger in Aston Villa's history.

The Guardian - Sport

Of all the senators who attempted Wednesday to rally support for the doomed Manchin-Toomey background check amendment, Connecticut's Democratic freshman representative, Chris Murphy, probably faced the greatest temptation to borrow the moral authority of the Newtown families.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "greatest", ensure that you are comparing within a defined group or context to make the superlative clear. For instance, instead of saying "It was the greatest day", specify "It was the greatest day of my life."

Common error

Avoid using "greatest" as a generic term of praise. Instead, provide specific details or reasons why something is exceptional. For example, instead of saying "That's the greatest idea", explain "That's the greatest idea because it solves X and Y."

Linguistic Context

The word "greatest" functions as a superlative adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that it possesses a quality to the highest degree, as seen in examples such as "the greatest benefit to mankind" from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "greatest" is a superlative adjective used to denote the highest degree of a quality or attribute. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. When employing "greatest", ensure a clear context for comparison and avoid overuse by opting for alternatives like "most significant" or "ultimate" where appropriate. Ludwig examples also emphasize its role in highlighting exceptional achievements and expressing admiration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most significant

Focuses on importance or impact rather than overall magnitude.

paramount

Emphasizes the highest importance or necessity.

ultimate

Suggests the final or most advanced stage.

supreme

Highlights ultimate authority or power.

foremost

Indicates being the most prominent or important.

topmost

Emphasizes the highest position or rank.

chief

Indicates the most important or influential person or thing.

leading

Focuses on being at the front or in charge.

record-breaking

Specifically refers to surpassing previous records.

principal

Highlights the main or primary aspect.

FAQs

How can I use "greatest" in a sentence?

Use "greatest" to describe something that surpasses all others in a specific quality or achievement. For example, "She is the greatest scientist of our time."

What are some alternatives to using "greatest"?

You can use alternatives like "most significant", "supreme", or "ultimate" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to use "greatest" without a clear comparison?

While sometimes acceptable in informal contexts, it's generally better to provide a comparison to clarify what is being considered the "greatest". For example, specify "the greatest challenge" by adding "in my career".

What's the difference between "great" and "greatest"?

"Great" is a general adjective indicating high quality or large size, while "greatest" is the superlative form, indicating the highest degree of that quality. For example, "a great movie" versus "the greatest movie ever made".