big bang

noun

: the cosmic explosion that marked the beginning of the universe according to the big bang theory
In 1965 Arno A. Penzias and Robert W. Wilson of the Bell Telephone Laboratories discovered that the space of the universe is bathed with a diffuse radiation that is assumed to persist following the "big bang" expansion of the universe from an original fireball.V. L. Ginzburg
The first stars and galaxies formed something like 300 million years after the big bang.Joel Achenbach
compare big crunch, big rip

Examples of big bang 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.
Richard Linklater‘s Nouvelle Vague time-travels to the moment right before modern cinema’s big bang, when the French New Wave crested and Godard’s Breathless would change everything. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2025 What was conceived as a plan to Marvel-ize the franchise did not translate into a big bang. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025 The experts credited the city, home of the University of Central Florida, for giving students a big bang for their buck. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025 Urban delivered a two-hour, 45-minute set spanning 34 songs, determined to go out at his hometown arena with a big bang. Bryan West, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big bang

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big bang was in 1949

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20bang. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

big bang

noun
: the explosion that caused the beginning of the universe according to the big bang theory
Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!