big-time

1 of 3

adjective

ˈbig-ˌtīm 

: relating to or involved in the big time

big-time sports

also : major sense 4

big-time operators

big-time

2 of 3

adverb

: in a major or large-scale way

the new show bombed big-time

also : to a great extent or degree

owes me big-time

big time

3 of 3

noun

-ˌtīm 

1

: a high-paying vaudeville circuit requiring only two performances a day

2

: the top rank of an activity or enterprise

big-timer

ˈbig-ˌtī-mər 

noun

Synonyms of big-time

Adverb

• highly
• much
• greatly
• considerably
• utterly
• significantly
• tremendously
• massively
• extensively

Noun

• big(s)

Examples of big-time in a Sentence

Adverb

wow, those renovations improved the library big-time

Noun

the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The only thing missing here is a big-time hardware/console release, but from a pure games perspective, 2007 can go toe-to-toe with almost any year. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026

The team desperately needed a big-time scoring guard to slot in at the off-guard position next to Keyonte George. — Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 26 June 2026

Adverb

Though Wilson has made short films before, The History of Concrete is his feature-length debut, executive-produced by a Safdie, with a big-time distributor (Magnolia Pictures) and a festival premiere behind it. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026

As a guest on a 2024 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the singer shared the adorable story of how his sons Matteo and Valentino first discovered their dad was a big-time musician. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Seminole defense forces a turnover on downs one play after Jamarion Coleman made a big time sack to put Mountain Vista out of field goal range. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

The year would also end up belonging to Bristol, a small town in Connecticut that was between New York and Boston, but – big time media-wise – couldn’t be any further from them. — Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1910, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for big-time

• airtime
• bedtime
• daytime
• downtime
• enzyme
• halftime
• lifetime
• longtime
• lunchtime
• mealtime
• meantime
• nighttime