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Definition of big-timenext
as in big(s)
the highest level of a field of endeavor the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of big-time
Adverb
With the acclaim came the awards, the invitations to give commencement speeches, the honorary degrees, the chance to perform before thousands of fans at big-time sports events. — Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 Which isn’t to say that co-viewing has entirely died out in the age of hyper-fragmentation, as big-time sporting events still have the power to fill a living room. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
In a key role, Gathegi will play a small-time crook with big time ambitions who is in over his head, according to sources. — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026 The Vikings defense stepped up big time in the second half, limiting Green Bay to just three points. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for big-time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big-time
Adverb
  • Authorities in both countries were investigating the cyber incidents, which exposed vulnerabilities in some older refrigeration management systems and in the countries' highly efficient food supply chains.
    — JOHN LEICESTER, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Cell-depleting therapies, which are generally considered highly effective treatments, target and remove specific immune cells.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Others are skeptical the task force can accomplish much in such a short time period, arguing that eventually sweeping new legislation will be needed to regulate AI.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Now, Mahomes and the Chiefs are undefeated through five games for only the third time in his career, and the offense much more closely resembles the heights of his torrid five-year start compared with the more recent three-season malaise.
    — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • China has also greatly reduced its imports by tapping into its strategic reserves.
    — Lou Robinson, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • One tiny drop on the collar of a jighead will greatly diminish a fish’s ability to rip off the lure when short striking.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Fortunately for Moss, his own fishing trip with Church went considerably better.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Ask whether the same level of performance is beginning to require considerably more internal effort.
    — Shahrzad Jalali, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • The general trivia and straight clues are also tough, and there’s a good amount of novelty, including 11 debut entries, a few oddballs among them, and one utterly brutal misdirect that significantly spiced up my solving experience.
    — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • And, of course, a finish that left me utterly speechless on multiple different levels.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Another Supreme Court case made injunctions — the court orders that companies historically relied on to halt patent infringement — significantly harder to secure.
    — Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI has significantly improved its models’ ability to write software in older programming languages and migrate existing code.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Those two questions narrow the scope of possible problems tremendously.
    — John Bruggeman, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The urban centers in this neck of the woods are also very large and—at the risk of chafing readers in the other three-quarters of the country—our biggest towns are also tremendously important.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • In general, human astronauts on Mars would massively expand our ability and flexibility to search for life.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026
  • This includes small angled drills that will fit in spaces no ordinary drill can reach as well as massively powerful SDS rotary hammers and demolition drills.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big-time. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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