Big Ben

noun

1
: a large bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London
2
: the tower that houses Big Ben
also : the clock in the tower

Examples of Big Ben in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Restaurants Big Ben British Restaurant & Pub, 1535 Elizabeth Ave. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2025 Recently, the account has gone viral for embracing an ongoing fictional romance with London's Big Ben. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 June 2025 London has its fair share of landmarks befitting of a refrigerator magnet (Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace, to name a few). Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 26 May 2025 Lucky lodgers enjoy stunning views of not only the River Thames, but also, London Eye, Big Ben and Houses of Parliament. Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for Big Ben

Word History

Etymology

Sir Benjamin Hall †1867 English Chief Commissioner of Works

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Big Ben was in 1859

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Cite this Entry

“Big Ben.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Big%20Ben. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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