relatively big

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "relatively big" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when comparing the size of something to other items or standards, indicating that it is larger than average but not necessarily the largest. Example: "The new smartphone model is relatively big compared to its predecessor, which was much smaller."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Britain is a (relatively) big country in Europe.

The Guardian

Earlier ancestors had a relatively big gut and apelike proportions.

The New York Times - Science

We were going into this relatively big apartment building.

The New York Times

The test also found that the 2%Deurex play a relatively big efficacy with Sasobit.

Construction and Building Materials

Likewise, another relatively big breakout hit, Rebecca Miller's metaphysical romcom, Maggie's Plan.

The Guardian - Film

"China's economy is still facing relatively big downward pressure," the central bank said.

The Guardian - Business

Tracking down Mr. bin Laden may be possible because he offers a relatively big target.

The New York Times

We can define human beings as apes with relatively big brains and relatively few hairs.

The New York Times - Books

When I landed a relatively big client who wanted to pop by, I panicked".

The Guardian

Citi was a relatively big bank at that time, but much smaller than it is today.

The New York Times

There were some relatively big MEPs felled in this year's election.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "relatively big" when you want to indicate that something is larger than average in comparison to something else, but not necessarily the largest possible option. For instance, "This city has a relatively big park compared to other urban green spaces."

Common error

Avoid using "relatively big" when the item is genuinely enormous or exceptionally large. In such cases, stronger adjectives like "huge", "massive", or "gigantic" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "relatively big" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate its size in comparison to something else. As shown by Ludwig, it's used to describe something that is larger than average, but not extremely so.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "relatively big" is a common and grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe something that is larger than average in comparison to something else. According to Ludwig, it functions to provide a comparative assessment of size in a neutral register, as it commonly appears in News & Media, Scientific and Formal/Business contexts. Related phrases include "quite large" and "fairly large". When using "relatively big", be sure to compare to something else or some average and avoid using it when describing exceptionally large items.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

comparatively large

Highlights the comparison more explicitly.

quite large

Emphasizes largeness more directly, omitting the comparative aspect.

fairly large

Similar in meaning, but with a slightly less formal tone.

considerably large

Indicates a significant degree of largeness.

moderately sized

More formal and precise, indicating a size within a defined range.

appreciably large

Emphasizes that the size is noticeable or important.

relatively substantial

Replaces "big" with a more formal synonym, suggesting significance.

somewhat significant

Shifts focus from physical size to importance or impact.

reasonably sized

Suggests adequate size, rather than exceptional size.

noticeably big

Highlights the ease with which the size is observed.

FAQs

How can I use "relatively big" in a sentence?

Use "relatively big" to compare the size of something to a reference point or average. For example, "The company made a relatively big profit this quarter, compared to last year".

What's a good alternative to "relatively big"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "quite large", "fairly large", or "somewhat significant".

Is it redundant to say "relatively big"?

While "relatively" and "big" can be used independently, their combination emphasizes that the size is notable only in comparison to something else. It's not inherently redundant, but consider if the comparison is clear from context.

What is the difference between "relatively big" and "very big"?

"Relatively big" implies a comparison, suggesting the size is significant in relation to something else. "Very big" simply indicates a large size, without necessarily implying a comparison. For example, "The mouse is very big" but "The elephant's ears are relatively big".