major
Describes something that is very important, serious, or large in size and scale. It is frequently used to highlight the significance of a situation, person, or object compared to others.
Examples
3 of 5Traffic is a major problem in this city during the morning rush hour.
Traffic is a very big and serious issue in this city in the morning.
The company announced a major change in its leadership policy today.
The firm shared a very important update regarding its management rules.
Don't worry about the broken glass; it's not a major deal.
Do not be concerned; it is not a very important or serious situation.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Major' in the army; they are much more important and hold a bigger rank than a private soldier.
Quick Quiz
The earthquake caused ______ damage to the old buildings in the town center.
Correct!
The correct answer is: major
Examples
Traffic is a major problem in this city during the morning rush hour.
everydayTraffic is a very big and serious issue in this city in the morning.
The company announced a major change in its leadership policy today.
formalThe firm shared a very important update regarding its management rules.
Don't worry about the broken glass; it's not a major deal.
informalDo not be concerned; it is not a very important or serious situation.
Pollution is a major factor contributing to global climate change.
academicContamination is a significant reason why the world's climate is changing.
We need to make a major investment to grow our business this year.
businessWe must spend a large amount of money to expand our company.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
major league
the highest level of a professional sport or activity
major in
to study a specific subject as your main focus at university
major breakthrough
an important discovery or event that helps solve a problem
Often Confused With
A 'mayor' is a person who leads a city, while 'major' is an adjective meaning important.
'Main' means the most important one of all, while 'major' simply means very important or large.
Usage Notes
Use 'major' when you want to emphasize that something has a large impact or is very serious. It can also be used as a noun in American English to refer to a student's main subject of study.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'more major' or 'most major,' but since 'major' already implies high importance, it is better to use 'very major' or simply 'major'.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Major' in the army; they are much more important and hold a bigger rank than a private soldier.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin word 'maior,' which means 'greater' or 'larger.'
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the United States, asking 'What is your major?' is the standard way to ask a university student what they are studying.
Quick Quiz
The earthquake caused ______ damage to the old buildings in the town center.
Correct!
The correct answer is: major
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Something that is massive is very, very large and heavy. It...
crucialExtremely important or necessary, especially because it will...
keyA small piece of metal used for opening or closing a lock on...
principalRefers to something that is the most important, main, or pri...
priorityPriority refers to the condition of being regarded as more i...
Related Words
unknown
A1A person or thing that is not known, recognized, or familiar. It often refers to a mysterious situation or a person who has not yet achieved fame or success.
of
A1A preposition used to show a relationship between a part and a whole, or to indicate belonging and origin. It connects a noun or pronoun to another part of the sentence to specify which one or what kind.
in
A1A preposition used to indicate position within a container, a space, an area, or a period of time. It describes being surrounded by something or being inside the boundaries of a location.
it
A1A third-person singular pronoun used to refer to an object, animal, or situation that has already been mentioned or is clear from context. It is also frequently used as a dummy subject to talk about time, weather, or distance.
on
A1A preposition used to indicate that something is in a position above and supported by a surface. It is also used to indicate a specific day or date, or to show that a device is functioning.
as
A1A conjunction used to compare two things that are equal in some way. It is most commonly used in the pattern 'as + adjective/adverb + as' to show similarity.
this
A1Used to identify a specific person, thing, or idea that is physically close to the speaker or has just been mentioned. It can also refer to the present time or a situation that is currently happening.
by
A1A preposition used to show the method or means of doing something, or to identify the person or thing that performs an action. It frequently appears in passive sentences to indicate the agent or before modes of transport.
we
A1The word 'we' is a first-person plural pronoun used to refer to the speaker and one or more other people collectively. It is used as the subject of a sentence or clause.
or
A1A coordinating conjunction used to connect two or more possibilities or alternatives. it indicates that only one of the options is likely, required, or true.
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