giants

Meanings

1. 1nounpluralliterary

   Very large imaginary people of great strength who appear in old stories and myths.

   Grammar: Plural countable noun; the singular is "giant." Use it with plural verbs: "Giants were said to live here."

   Patterns

   • giants in stories
   • a race of giants
   • fight a giant

   In the old tale, a family of giants built the stone bridge overnight.

   The children's book is full of friendly giants who guard the forest.

   Sailors in the legend claimed the island was ruled by giants.

2. 2nounpluralfigurative

   People or organizations that are extremely large, powerful, or successful in a particular field.

   Grammar: Plural countable noun, often followed by "of" plus a field: "giants of technology."

   Patterns

   • giants of something
   • industry giants
   • corporate giants

   Two software giants announced a partnership last week.

   She studied the business methods of retail giants like these.

   The small startup was bought by one of the industry giants.

3. 3nounpluralsport

   In sports, a team or club whose name includes the word Giants.

   Grammar: Plural proper noun used as a team name; takes a plural verb: "The Giants are playing tonight."

   Patterns

   • the Giants play
   • the Giants won
   • a Giants fan

   The Giants won their opening game by three points.

   He has been a Giants supporter since he was a boy.

   Tickets for the Giants match sold out in an hour.

Word forms

Common combinations

industry giants

Industry giants often set the standards smaller firms must follow.

a race of giants

The myth describes a race of giants who lived before humans.

gentle giants

The big dogs are gentle giants that love children.

giants of the game

The award honors giants of the game who changed the sport.

corporate giants

Corporate giants dominate the global food market.

Synonyms and how they differ

titans

Use "titans" for powerful figures in a field, often with a grander, more literary tone than "giants."

colossi

"Colossi" means enormous statues or figures and sounds more formal and rare than "giants."

behemoths

"Behemoths" stresses huge size and clumsiness, often for companies or machines, rather than mythical strength.

Opposites

Word family

giant noun

One very large imaginary person or a very large successful organization.

giant adjective

Extremely large, as in "a giant step" or "a giant screen."

giantess noun

A female giant in stories and myths.

Commonly confused: giants or jaints? giants or genies?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “giants”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words