large

/lɑːd͡ʒ/

//lɑːd͡ʒ// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"large" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“large” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #399 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#399
frequency rank, English
5
letters
7
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Of considerable or relatively great size or extent.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

large vs late
60% similar
large vs lure
60% similar
large vs lore
60% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for large
PropertyValue
Headwordlarge
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/lɑːd͡ʒ/
Letters5
Frequency rank#399
Misspellings tracked7
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “large” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). large lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for large is 5 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /lɑːd͡ʒ/. Corpus data places it at rank #399 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 7 likely wrong-spelling variants for large, with forms such as "alrge", "lagre", and "lareg". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "late", "lure", "lore", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English large, from Old French large, from Latin larga, feminine of largus (“abundant, plentiful, copious, large, much”), of uncertain ultimate origin; see there for more. Along with big, it mostly displaced Middle English stoor and muchel (the … The correct English form is large, spelled L-A-R-G-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of considerable or relatively great size or extent.
  2. 2
    That is large (the manufactured size).
  3. 3
    Abundant; ample.
  4. 4
    Full in statement; diffuse; profuse.
  5. 5
    Free; unencumbered.
  6. 6
    Unrestrained by decorum; said of language.
  7. 7
    Crossing the line of a ship's course in a favorable direction; said of the wind when it is abeam, or between the beam and the quarter.

Etymology

From Middle English large, from Old French large, from Latin larga, feminine of largus (“abundant, plentiful, copious, large, much”), of uncertain ultimate origin; see there for more. Along with big, it mostly displaced Middle English stoor and muchel (the latter surviving in much under a different meaning).

Synonyms

bighugegiantgiganticenormousstourgreatmicklelargeishamplebodaciousbroadcommodiousconsiderableexpansivegood-sizedfullgenerousgrandheftyhenchimmensejumbolarger than lifelargificalleviathanlongmassivemega-overlargeoutsizedoversizeoversizedprodigiousroomyrotundsizeablespaciousstonkingsubstantialtallvastvoluminouswideastronomicbehemothicbig fatboxcarBrobdingnagianbulkycolossalcyclopeanDaniel Lambertishelephantineelephanticgargantuangiantesquegigantesqueginormousgreat bighonkin'hulkinghumongoushunormousimmanemahoosivemammothmastodonicmonstrousmonumentalmountainouspantagruelianpyramidalPythonicstupendoussuper-supersizedtitanictremendouswhoppingyuge

Antonyms

smalltinyminuscule

This word in other languages

grande(Español)grand(Français)groß(Deutsch)grande(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: alrge,lagre,lareg,largge,larrge,llarge,lrage

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of large - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

alrge2lagre2lareg2largge1larrge1llarge1lrage2
Edit distance from "large"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "large"?
"large" is spelled L-A-R-G-E. The IPA pronunciation is /lɑːd͡ʒ/.
What does "large" mean?
As an adjective, "large" means: Of considerable or relatively great size or extent.
What words are commonly confused with "large"?
"large" is commonly confused with "late", "lure", "lore". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "large"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "large" is /lɑːd͡ʒ/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "large"?
From Middle English large, from Old French large, from Latin larga, feminine of largus (“abundant, plentiful, copious, large, much”), of uncertain ultimate origin; see there for more. Along with big, it mostly displaced Middle English stoor and mu... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “large”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-A-R-G-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /lɑːd͡ʒ/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “late” - see the side-by-side comparison. large vs late
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list