Sometimes we want to say something is very big, but just using the word “big” doesn’t feel strong enough. That’s when similes can help. A simile compares one thing to another using the words “like” or “as.” It paints a picture in your mind. Saying something is “as big as a whale” is more fun and helps people imagine the size better.
In this article, we will look at similes that describe things that are large. These similes can be used in stories, poems, or even everyday talk. You might hear them in books or use them when describing something at school. Learning a few of these can make your writing and speaking more interesting. Let’s begin by learning what these similes mean and how they work.
Similes For Big
1. As big as a house
Meaning: Very large in size
Give an Instance: That dog was as big as a house. / Her backpack looked as big as a house.
Substitute Meaning: Huge / Gigantic / Enormous
2. As big as an elephant
Meaning: Extremely large or hard to miss
Give an Instance: The mistake was as big as an elephant. / That van is as big as an elephant.
Substitute Meaning: Massive / Hard to ignore / Giant
3. As big as a mountain
Meaning: Very tall or large in size
Give an Instance: That stack of laundry was as big as a mountain. / The snow pile in the yard was as big as a mountain.
Substitute Meaning: Towering / Huge / Tall and wide
4. As big as a school bus
Meaning: Large and long
Give an Instance: The float in the parade was as big as a school bus. / The sandwich was almost as big as a school bus.
Substitute Meaning: Long / Oversized / Large-scale
5. As big as a whale
Meaning: Enormous in shape or size
Give an Instance: The birthday balloon was as big as a whale. / The inflatable pool was as big as a whale.
Substitute Meaning: Bulky / Immense / Massive
6. As big as a football field
Meaning: Wide and spacious
Give an Instance: His backyard felt as big as a football field. / The classroom felt as big as a football field.
Substitute Meaning: Huge area / Open / Broad
7. As big as a barn
Meaning: Wide and roomy
Give an Instance: The garage is as big as a barn. / That old coat is as big as a barn.
Substitute Meaning: Spacious / Wide / Roomy
8. As big as a bear
Meaning: Large and strong
Give an Instance: My cousin is as big as a bear. / That dog looks as big as a bear.
Substitute Meaning: Strong / Muscular / Powerful
9. As big as a tree
Meaning: Tall and noticeable
Give an Instance: The cake at the party was as big as a tree. / The trophy was as big as a tree.
Substitute Meaning: Tall / Impressive / Noticeable
10. As big as a giant
Meaning: Very tall and large
Give an Instance: That statue is as big as a giant. / The kid in 6th grade is as big as a giant.
Substitute Meaning: Towering / Oversized / Gigantic
11. As big as the sky
Meaning: Huge, endless, or full of space
Give an Instance: Her dreams were as big as the sky. / The view from the hill was as big as the sky.
Substitute Meaning: Boundless / Limitless / Open
12. As big as a truck
Meaning: Heavy and large
Give an Instance: That pumpkin was as big as a truck. / The new couch is as big as a truck.
Substitute Meaning: Huge / Heavy / Massive
13. As big as a fridge
Meaning: Boxy and large
Give an Instance: The robot looked as big as a fridge. / His suitcase was as big as a fridge.
Substitute Meaning: Thick / Large / Bulky
14. As big as a castle
Meaning: Very grand and spacious
Give an Instance: Their house looked as big as a castle. / The hotel room was as big as a castle.
Substitute Meaning: Fancy / Massive / Spacious
15. As big as a cloud
Meaning: Large and soft in shape
Give an Instance: Her hair was as big as a cloud. / The cotton candy was as big as a cloud.
Substitute Meaning: Puffy / Light / Fluffy and big
16. As big as a parade float
Meaning: Huge and flashy
Give an Instance: Their birthday decoration was as big as a parade float. / The project board was as big as a parade float.
Substitute Meaning: Fancy / Showy / Oversized
17. As big as a pizza box
Meaning: Flat and large
Give an Instance: His tablet was as big as a pizza box. / The game board was as big as a pizza box.
Substitute Meaning: Wide / Large / Flat
18. As big as the ocean
Meaning: Vast and never-ending
Give an Instance: Her love for animals is as big as the ocean. / The homework list felt as big as the ocean.
Substitute Meaning: Endless / Huge / Deep
19. As big as a pancake
Meaning: Wide and flat
Give an Instance: The puddle was as big as a pancake. / That book is as big as a pancake.
Substitute Meaning: Flat / Broad / Spread out
20. As big as a city
Meaning: Very large in area or size
Give an Instance: The amusement park felt as big as a city. / The map looked as big as a city.
Substitute Meaning: Huge / Sprawling / Vast
21. As big as a balloon
Meaning: Large and round
Give an Instance: His belly after dinner was as big as a balloon. / The bubble she blew was as big as a balloon.
Substitute Meaning: Puffy / Inflated / Round and large
22. As big as a hill
Meaning: Raised and wide
Give an Instance: The pile of toys was as big as a hill. / That snow mound is as big as a hill.
Substitute Meaning: Raised / Large / Stacked high
23. As big as a monster
Meaning: Large and a little scary
Give an Instance: The thunderstorm cloud looked as big as a monster. / The costume was as big as a monster.
Substitute Meaning: Massive / Scary large / Unusual in size
24. As big as a drum
Meaning: Round and bulky
Give an Instance: His backpack was as big as a drum. / The container was as big as a drum.
Substitute Meaning: Round / Fat / Thick
25. As big as a basketball
Meaning: Small but round and large for its kind
Give an Instance: That apple was as big as a basketball. / Her head looked as big as a basketball in the helmet.
Substitute Meaning: Round / Full-sized / Oversized
26. As big as a tire
Meaning: Circular and wide
Give an Instance: That pancake is as big as a tire. / The cookie she made was as big as a tire.
Substitute Meaning: Broad / Thick / Round and big
27. As big as a statue
Meaning: Tall and firm
Give an Instance: He stood still, as big as a statue. / The snowman was as big as a statue.
Substitute Meaning: Tall / Firm / Solid
28. As big as a tree trunk
Meaning: Thick and strong
Give an Instance: His arm was as big as a tree trunk. / The pipe was as big as a tree trunk.
Substitute Meaning: Thick / Sturdy / Strong
29. As big as a flood
Meaning: Overwhelming in size or number
Give an Instance: The crowd was as big as a flood. / The mess was as big as a flood.
Substitute Meaning: Overflowing / Massive / Unstoppable
30. As big as a tent
Meaning: Wide and covering space
Give an Instance: That jacket is as big as a tent. / The blanket was as big as a tent.
Substitute Meaning: Loose / Wide / Covering
31. As big as a zoo
Meaning: Full of large parts or space
Give an Instance: The birthday party was as big as a zoo. / Their toy collection is as big as a zoo.
Substitute Meaning: Full / Packed / Spread out
32. As big as a planet
Meaning: Beyond normal size
Give an Instance: His ego felt as big as a planet. / That balloon is almost as big as a planet.
Substitute Meaning: Extreme / Gigantic / Out of this world
33. As big as a cornfield
Meaning: Wide and flat
Give an Instance: The open land was as big as a cornfield. / Her art project was as big as a cornfield.
Substitute Meaning: Wide / Spread / Flat and large
34. As big as a water tower
Meaning: Tall and round
Give an Instance: The rocket model was as big as a water tower. / That snow fort is as big as a water tower.
Substitute Meaning: High / Circular / Massive
35. As big as a theater screen
Meaning: Wide and attention-grabbing
Give an Instance: The picture on the wall was as big as a theater screen. / His smile was as big as a theater screen.
Substitute Meaning: Bold / Huge / Wide
36. As big as a billboard
Meaning: Noticeable and wide
Give an Instance: That sign was as big as a billboard. / Her handwriting on the poster was as big as a billboard.
Substitute Meaning: Clear / Wide / Obvious
37. As big as a shopping mall
Meaning: Large and spread out
Give an Instance: The science fair was as big as a shopping mall. / The gym felt as big as a shopping mall.
Substitute Meaning: Sprawling / Massive / Large-scale
38. As big as a freezer
Meaning: Large and box-shaped
Give an Instance: His toy box is as big as a freezer. / That package was as big as a freezer.
Substitute Meaning: Boxy / Heavy / Big
39. As big as a mattress
Meaning: Long and flat
Give an Instance: That gift box is as big as a mattress. / His drawing paper was as big as a mattress.
Substitute Meaning: Large / Wide / Flat
40. As big as a storm
Meaning: Wild and large
Give an Instance: His voice was as big as a storm. / The game was as big as a storm in the gym.
Substitute Meaning: Loud / Wild / Strong
41. As big as a wave
Meaning: Moving large and powerful
Give an Instance: The cheer from the crowd was as big as a wave. / The splash was as big as a wave.
Substitute Meaning: Strong / Fast / Huge
42. As big as a lion
Meaning: Large and proud
Give an Instance: He walked in, as big as a lion. / The cat looked as big as a lion in that photo.
Substitute Meaning: Proud / Fierce / Big and bold
43. As big as a boulder
Meaning: Hard and heavy
Give an Instance: That chunk of ice was as big as a boulder. / The toy chest was as big as a boulder.
Substitute Meaning: Heavy / Solid / Giant
44. As big as a pile of books
Meaning: Stacked and high
Give an Instance: Her homework was as big as a pile of books. / The stack of games was as big as a pile of books.
Substitute Meaning: Tall / Piled / Large amount
45. As big as a holiday feast
Meaning: Full and large
Give an Instance: The lunch tray was as big as a holiday feast. / The dinner on Thanksgiving was as big as a holiday feast.
Substitute Meaning: Full / Huge / Packed
Find the “Similes For Big”
Reading Passage
Last Friday, the school gym was decorated for the 5th-grade spring dance. The balloon arch at the entrance was as big as a whale. Inside, the snack table stretched as big as a school bus, covered in chips, cupcakes, and juice boxes. The music speaker in the corner looked as big as a fridge and made the whole room shake.
When the lights dimmed, the disco ball hanging from the ceiling sparkled as big as the sky. Max stood by the wall, holding a gift bag as big as a pizza box. He was waiting to give it to Emma, who wore a sparkly dress as big as a holiday feast.
The teacher brought out a piñata as big as a barn, and the kids lined up fast. When it finally broke, candy spilled across the floor as big as a flood. Everyone cheered, and Kayla’s laugh was as big as a storm. The whole event felt as big as a shopping mall, filled with fun, friends, and noise.
Your Turn
Can you find and list all the similes in the story that describe something “big”? Underline them in the passage or write them below.
Answer Key
- As big as a whale
- As big as a school bus
- As big as a fridge
- As big as the sky
- As big as a pizza box
- As big as a holiday feast
- As big as a barn
- As big as a flood
- As big as a storm
- As big as a shopping mall
Conclusion
Similes help us picture things more clearly. When we say something is “as big as a house” or “as big as a mountain,” it gives a stronger idea than just saying “big.” These comparisons make writing more fun and easier to imagine.
Now that you’ve seen many similes for “big,” try using some in your own stories or conversations. It’s a simple way to make your ideas stand out and feel more real.
