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.
The latest version reaches about 85 meters in length and would stand nearly as tall as London’s Big Ben or New York City’s Flatiron Building, according to the Financial Times. Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 5 May 2026 Next to the dog, a faded print of Big Ben, and a commemorative plate with the late Queen Elizabeth II smiling from nine different decades. Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026 The footage cut between rapid glimpses of London iconography — the King's Guard, black cabs and Big Ben — before revealing a crane lifting the statue out of its crate. Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026 On Earth, the dangerous terrorist group known as the Wolfpack attacks major landmarks, such as Big Ben. Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2026 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 12 May. 2026.

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