not bigger than

USAGE SUMMARY

"not bigger than" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when comparing two things, activities, or situations to indicate that the first one is not larger than the second one. For example, "The amount of food we had was not bigger than a breadbox."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I'm not bigger than life".

The New York Times

I'm not bigger than the game.

The New York Times - Sports

He is not bigger than the team or the league.

The New York Times - Sports

"The problems we have are not bigger than we are".

The New York Times

"This game is not bigger than someone's health.

The New York Times - Sports

HENDRIK HERTZBERG: Beck is not bigger than NPR.

The New Yorker

"He just found out he's not bigger than the universe," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

"At least they came around and they realized that they are not bigger than the game".

The New York Times - Sports

One player is not bigger than the football club - that is Sir Alex's mantra, that has always been his saying.

Independent

"The Royal Bank of Scotland is not bigger than General Motors or Ford... .. "No?" I asked nervously.

The Guardian - Travel

Mets Manager Bobby Valentine claimed that this series was "pretty big," but not bigger than any other.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not bigger than" to establish a size or importance threshold, ensuring the compared item remains within acceptable limits. For example, "The budget increase should be not bigger than 5%."

Common error

Avoid using "not bigger than" when a more precise or direct comparison is possible. Saying "smaller than" is often clearer and avoids potential ambiguity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not bigger than" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It's used to indicate that one item or concept does not exceed the size, extent, or importance of another. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

39%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "not bigger than" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express comparisons, set limits, or indicate relative importance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. It appears most frequently in scientific and news-related contexts, demonstrating its applicability across various domains. When a more direct comparison is needed, ""smaller than"" might be more appropriate, but "not bigger than" remains a reliable and commonly used expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

smaller than

Directly indicates a smaller size; substitutes 'not bigger' with a more straightforward comparative.

not as large as

Uses a different structure to express the same idea of comparative size.

lesser than

A more formal or literary way to say 'smaller' or 'less important'.

less significant than

Shifts the comparison to importance or impact, rather than physical size.

not as important as

Focuses on the relative importance, diverging from a strictly size-based comparison.

inferior to

Implies a lower status or quality, which can sometimes relate to perceived size or importance.

dwarfed by

Implies a large difference in size, making one thing appear insignificant compared to the other.

overshadowed by

Suggests something is smaller or less noticeable because something else is much larger or prominent.

secondary to

Highlights that one thing is less important or comes after another.

subordinate to

Indicates a lower rank or importance, often in a hierarchical context.

FAQs

How can I use "not bigger than" in a sentence?

Use "not bigger than" to compare the size or importance of two things, indicating that one is equal to or smaller than the other. For example, "The problem is "not bigger than" we can handle."

What alternatives can I use instead of "not bigger than"?

You can use alternatives such as "smaller than", "less significant than", or "not as large as", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "not as big as" instead of "not bigger than"?

Yes, "not as big as" is a perfectly acceptable and often more common alternative to "not bigger than", especially in informal contexts. Both phrases convey the same meaning.

When is it more appropriate to use "not bigger than" versus "smaller than"?

"Not bigger than" is often used when setting an upper limit or constraint, while "smaller than" simply indicates a size comparison. For example, "The file size should be "not bigger than" 2MB" implies a requirement, whereas "This image is "smaller than" that one" is a descriptive comparison.