Definition of at large in English:
at large
phrase
1(especially of a criminal or dangerous animal) at liberty; escaped or not yet captured.
‘the fugitive was still at large’- ‘The prosecution are entitled to raise it and it is their duty to do so rather than allow a dangerous person to be at large.’
- ‘Finally, a power of entry is given to recapture a person who is unlawfully at large and whom the police officer is pursuing.’
- ‘It also signifies fugitives and runaways, including known criminals who are at large such as escaped convicts.’
- ‘The other three suspects escaped and are still at large.’
- ‘Please stay off the streets while these criminals are at large.’
- ‘The four assailants were not captured and are still at large.’
- ‘Police caught one of the thieves but the other eluded capture and is still at large.’
- ‘That commander was believed to be one of the last few senior-level Nazi war criminals still living at large.’
- ‘As for the wolf, there were claims that three animals had been at large, one killed by a train, another caught in a trap and a third still at liberty.’
at liberty, free, on the loose, on the run, fugitiveView synonyms2As a whole; in general.
‘there has been a loss of community values in society at large’- ‘When I send you one, you take it from me, generalise it at a glance, bestow it thus generalised upon society at large, and make me the second discoverer of a known theorem.’
- ‘Society at large obviously doesn't value their education either.’
- ‘And for another, society at large will not in general desire that its members should be victims of cruelty, and so its desires in this respect will be frustrated too.’
- ‘There must be a frank, honest dialogue with the public at large, so that society as a whole learns to have realistic expectations and to accept that death is part of life.’
- ‘He faces massive revolts in his own party and in the nation at large over a whole range of issues.’
- ‘The act required unclassified reports in order to inform Congress as a whole and the public at large.’
- ‘The duty is owed not to the world at large (as a duty in criminal law would be), but only to an individual within the scope of the risk created, that is, to a foreseeable victim.’
- ‘The public at large believes criminals should be punished.’
- ‘Like members of the public at large, the judge does not instruct jurors in a criminal case on what to think.’
- ‘I only hope that I am able to restrain them before these unutterable terrors escape into the world at large.’
as a whole, as a body, generally, in general, in the mainView synonyms3
(also at-large)US In a general way; without particularizing.‘the magazine's editor at large’- ‘Mr. Yates is editor at large of Car and Driver magazine.’
- ‘He's now an editor at large at U.S. News and World Report.’
- ‘Michael Elliott is editor at large for ‘Time’ magazine here in New York City.’
- ‘Carol Iannone is editor at large of Academic Questions..’
- ‘In our second feature, editor at large Alision Stein Wellner shows us how this postponement of adulthood is affecting other parts of society.’
- ‘He will be like an ambassador at large, without portfolio.’
- ‘Editors at large publishing houses think they're inundated with manuscripts; what they're seeing is just the tip of the iceberg.’
- ‘Sean Wilsey, an editor at large for McSweeney's quarterly, was born in San Francisco in 1970.’
- ‘Neil Hickey is editor at large at the Columbia Journalism Review.’
- ‘Eric Hotung was appointed ambassador at large of East Timor last year and has been active in charitable and humanitarian work.’
4 dated At length; in great detail.
‘writing at large on the policies he wished to pursue’- ‘The column quoted veteran Carnival music-provider DJ Hurricane George, who detailed female Jouvert frustrations at large.’
in detail, with full details, exhaustively, at length, extensivelyView synonyms
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips