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at large

/æt lɑrdʒ/
/æt lɑdʒ/
IPA guide

If you sneak out of jail and roam free, you’re at large! You’re on the loose! At large is often used for criminals who have eluded the police, but your dog could be at large if you can't find her.

Have you ever watched the news and heard something like, "A murder suspect is at large"? That's bad news, because it means they're not in police custody. People use this term when someone escapes from the police or hasn't been captured yet. You'll hear this term a lot on TV shows that involve crime. Bank robbers, muggers, and even lost dogs could all be at large. A criminal is at large until the police catch him.

Definitions of at large
  1. adjective
    having escaped, especially from confinement
    “a convict still at large
    synonyms: escaped, loose, on the loose
    free
    able to act at will; not hampered; not under compulsion or restraint
  2. adverb
    in a general fashion
    “he talked at large about his plans”
    synonyms: in a broad way
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