Cool MateGreat vs That was wicked
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That was wicked
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: GreatMost common: Great
| Great | That was wicked | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt wəz ˈwɪkɪd//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəz ˈwɪkəd// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | That was great or amazing. |
| Example | This pizza is great and very tasty! | That roller coaster was wicked! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | wicked awesome, wicked cool, wicked fun, wicked good, wicked smart |
| Antonyms | terrible, poor, bad | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Confused with 'wicked' meaning evil., Overused in contexts where a more serious comment is appropriate., Used inappropriately in very formal settings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | Used in casual conversation, particularly among younger speakers. Not suitable for formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Great vs That was wicked
What's the difference between Great and That was wicked?
Great: very good or impressive That was wicked: That was great or amazing.
Which is more formal: Great and That was wicked?
Great is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Great and That was wicked?
Great is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! That was wicked: That roller coaster was wicked!
Can I use Great and That was wicked interchangeably?
Not always. Great and That was wicked are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.