greater

Greater is the comparative form of the adjective great. It is used to indicate a higher degree of size, extent, importance, or intensity. In English, greater often modifies nouns or adjectives, as in a greater number, a greater extent, or a greater concern. It appears in fixed phrases such as the greater part or the greater good, where it signals a larger or more significant portion or outcome.

In grammar, greater is formed from great by adding the suffix -er and functions as a comparative. It is commonly used in comparisons between two or more items, with the base form great remaining in related phrases such as “the greater of two evils” or “the greater number of people.”

Etymology wise, the word derives from Old English grēat and is cognate with similar Germanic-language terms. Over time, its comparative form standardized as greater, used across a broad range of contexts.

In mathematics and logic, the phrase greater than describes an ordering relation, denoted by the symbol >. It is used to compare numbers, quantities, or values, as in x > y, and extends to inequalities, functions, and data sets in science and statistics.

Geographically and culturally, greater is used in compound place names to indicate a larger region relative to a related smaller area. Examples include Greater London, the historic term Greater Antilles, and other uses where the word signals relative size or significance.

Common confusion may occur with the homophone grater, a kitchen tool. Beyond that, greater functions as a standard comparative form across many domains.