Greatness means exceptional quality or achievement that stands far above the ordinary. When we talk about someone's greatness, we're recognizing that they've accomplished something truly remarkable or possess qualities that set them apart. A scientist who discovers a cure for a disease achieves greatness. An athlete who breaks records through years of dedication demonstrates greatness. Abraham Lincoln showed greatness by holding the nation together during its most difficult crisis.

Greatness isn't about being perfect or never failing. Many people who achieved greatness failed repeatedly before succeeding. Thomas Edison conducted thousands of failed experiments before inventing a practical light bulb. What made him great wasn't avoiding failure but persevering through it.

The word also describes something impressively large or intense. A great oak tree towers over the forest. The Great Wall of China stretches thousands of miles. Someone might feel great sadness or great joy, emotions so powerful they're hard to contain.

People sometimes confuse greatness with fame, but they're different. Fame means being well-known; greatness means being excellent or important. You could be famous without being great, or achieve greatness without many people knowing your name. The teacher who inspires hundreds of students over a career achieves a kind of greatness, even if she never becomes famous.