largest

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "largest" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a physical size (e.g. "The largest shop in town"), a group of people (e.g. "The largest gathering of people in the city") or an abstract concept (e.g. "The largest problem facing society today").

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But even that is simple compared with piecing together the accounts of the world's largest home-furnishing retailer.

The Economist

About Guardian News & Media Guardian News & Media (GNM) publishes theguardian.com, the third largest English-speaking newspaper website in the world (comScore, April 2014).

The Guardian

-ends- Notes to editors: About Guardian News & Media Guardian News & Media (GNM) publishes theguardian.com, the third largest English-speaking newspaper website in the world (comScore, January 2013).

The Guardian

By 2013, Turkmenistan was China's largest foreign supplier of natural gas.

The Guardian

It has the second largest oil reserves among the former Soviet republics after Russia, and its oil exports are expected to soar as its huge Kashagan oil field, in the Caspian Sea, develops.

The Guardian

In addition, Nordbanken, the largest bank nationalized in Sweden, was already eighty per cent government-owned.

The Economist

Weighing almost six tonnes and measuring 4 metres (13ft) square, the giant slab of milk chocolate has broken the record for the world's largest chocolate bar.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As part of the UK's largest after-hours cultural festival, more than 500 museums, galleries and heritage sites across the country are turning nocturnal this weekend, inviting the public to experience their collections and history after dark.

The Guardian

In 2012, a bidding war for GMG Radio – the third largest radio group in the UK – resulted in Global Radio paying £70m for the barely profitable operation.

The Guardian

We are making the biggest investment in roads since the 1970s and the biggest in rail since Victorian times, connecting 40,000 premises to superfast broadband every week, and starting an energy revolution with the first new nuclear plant in a generation, the world's first green investment bank and the largest production of offshore wind on the planet.

The Guardian - Opinion

Problem: In 2003, Zane Wilson, the founder of the South African Depression & Anxiety Group (Sadag), the country's largest mental health initiative, was horrified at how suicide rates among young South Africans were spiking.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "largest", ensure the context clearly defines what is being measured. Is it physical size, population, market share, or something else? Providing this context adds clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "largest" without specifying the category or criteria for comparison. For example, instead of saying "the largest company", specify "the largest technology company by revenue" to avoid ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The word "largest" functions primarily as a superlative adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that it surpasses all others in size, extent, or degree within a given comparison group. As supported by Ludwig, it correctly amplifies the attribute of size.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "largest" functions as a superlative adjective, denoting the greatest size or extent within a defined context. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically sound and frequently used term, particularly in News & Media. To ensure clarity, it's crucial to specify the criteria being measured when using "largest". While synonyms like "biggest" and "greatest" exist, they carry nuanced differences in meaning. Therefore, using "largest" accurately and providing adequate context will result in writing with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

biggest

Focuses on physical size or scale, directly comparable to "largest".

greatest

Emphasizes magnitude or significance, rather than just physical size.

most extensive

Highlights the breadth or reach of something, differing slightly from pure size.

maximum

Implies an upper limit or a peak value, suitable in quantifiable contexts.

foremost

Suggests being the most important or prominent, not necessarily the biggest.

principal

Indicates primary importance or main status, differing from size.

dominant

Focuses on power or influence, rather than literal size.

most significant

Highlights importance or impact, not necessarily physical dimensions.

supreme

Implies the highest level or rank, not directly related to size.

leading

Suggests being in the forefront or at the top, not necessarily the largest.

FAQs

How can I use "largest" in a sentence?

You can use "largest" to describe the greatest size or extent of something, for example, "This is the "largest park" in the city" or "She has the "largest collection" of stamps".

What are some alternatives to the word "largest"?

Depending on the context, you can use "biggest", "greatest", or "most extensive" as alternatives to "largest".

Which is correct, "large" or "largest"?

"Large" describes something of considerable size, while "largest" indicates the superlative, meaning the biggest of all. Use "largest" when comparing three or more items.

What is the difference between "largest" and "most significant"?

"Largest" refers to physical size, quantity or extent, while "most significant" refers to importance or impact. For instance, "the "largest city"" refers to area or population, whereas "the "most significant event"" refers to impact.