greatness
greatness — noun
1. the state of being very important, famous, or powerful — used of people, achieve
the state of being very important, famous, or powerful — used of people, achievements, or ideas whose influence lasts across time.
It took years of hard work for Asher to achieve greatness as a concert pianist.
achieve greatness in [career/field]
The poet Wren achieved greatness not with money but with verses that still comfort readers today.
achieved greatness through [lasting contribution]
Journalists still argue about the greatness of leaders like Nelson Mandela, whose legacy divides opinion.
Min received a national award for her greatness in the field of medical research.
Rachid never expected greatness from his pottery hobby, but galleries asked to sell his work.
- eminence
more formal, often used for scholars or experts who are widely respected in their field
- stature
emphasises moral or intellectual standing rather than fame or power
- prominence
focuses on being widely known or visible rather than on inherent importance
- insignificance
the opposite of being important or influential
- obscurity
the opposite of being famous or well known
用法筆記
Often used with possessive determiners (his greatness, her greatness) or in the pattern 'greatness of [person/achievement].' Typically uncountable — do not use with an indefinite article.
常見錯誤
2. how exceptionally good or impressive someone or something is in ability, talent,
how exceptionally good or impressive someone or something is in ability, talent, or character — said of skilled people, outstanding performances, or admirable personal qualities.
Emily's greatness as a chef showed in the perfect taste of every dish she made.
possessive: greatness as a [role]
When a fire destroyed Tariq's shop, neighbours rebuilt it in a week — for him, that kindness was true greatness.
collocation: true greatness shown by [concrete act]
The pianist's performance moved the audience to tears, a moment of pure artistic greatness.
At seventy-two, Gabriel ran his first half-marathon — personal greatness meant proving he could do it.
Ife showed greatness of character by forgiving those who had treated her unfairly.
- excellence
the closest synonym; slightly less formal and more widely used across contexts
- brilliance
emphasises outstanding intelligence, creativity, or talent
- distinction
focuses on being noticeably better than others in a particular area
- mediocrity
the opposite of being exceptionally good or impressive
- inferiority
emphasises being below average in quality or ability
用法筆記
Commonly paired with a role or domain via 'as a [role]' (greatness as a teacher) or 'of [quality]' (greatness of spirit) to specify the area of excellence.
常見錯誤
3. the degree to which something is large or extreme in size, number, or intensity
the degree to which something is large or extreme in size, number, or intensity — used of physical objects, natural forces, or quantities.
The greatness of the Sahara amazed Wei, who had never imagined sand stretching so far.
collocation: greatness of [vast landscape]
Hikers stopped in awe at the canyon cliffs whose greatness rose a thousand metres above them.
collocation: greatness of [natural feature] with measurement
No one expected the dam wall's greatness — it stretched across the entire valley.
The greatness of the crowd that filled the square surprised even the event organisers.
Standing on the cliff, Diego looked out at the greatness of the ocean before him.
用法筆記
Typically appears in the structure 'the greatness of [something]' when describing physical scale or degree. Less common in everyday speech; prefer more specific nouns (height, width, volume) for exact measurements.