: relating to or involved in the big time
big-time sports
: in a major or large-scale way
the new show bombed big-time
also
: to a great extent or degree
owes me big-time
1
: a high-paying vaudeville circuit requiring only two performances a day
2
: the top rank of an activity or enterprise
big-tim·er
(ˈ)big-¦tī-mər 
: one who has reached the big time
a television big-timer
Examples of big-time in a Sentence
Adverb
wow, those renovations improved the library big-time
Noun (1)
the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling
Recent Examples on the Web
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
Yet, as Ritter points out, Goldman and Morgan Stanley are already collecting soft dollars big-time based on their chances of leading one or both deals.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026
José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
All those things can be potential avenues for big-time infections.
—Ambar Castillo, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Bill Kelly, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Last year’s trio of big time home games (Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss) didn’t hurt either.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for big-time
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Adjective
The benches cleared after New York Yankees pitcher Art Ditmar threw close to the White Sox’s Larry Doby — and some big-time punching followed.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026
Yet, as Ritter points out, Goldman and Morgan Stanley are already collecting soft dollars big-time based on their chances of leading one or both deals.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Adverb
Read more:Recent live events, rise of David Benavidez show boxing is thriving in Arizona Familia Ramos Anyone who has watched Jesús Ramos fight can see that there is big-time potential in the 22-year-old super welterweight.
—José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
All those things can be potential avenues for big-time infections.
—Ambar Castillo, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Noun
The humidity will go up big time from the morning to the evening, from humid to muggy, so shorts are a must, along with having the umbrella handy just in case.
—Bill Kelly, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Last year’s trio of big time home games (Texas, Alabama, Ole Miss) didn’t hurt either.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for big-time
Cite this Entry
“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big-time. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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