big wheel

noun

plural big wheels
1
chiefly US, informal : an important person : bigwig, big shot
He … followed the girl to the elevator, and got in with her as if she were a big wheel in Bronx politics.Wilfrid Sheed
2
British : ferris wheel
The wheel formation is the basis of most rides, and the Big Wheel itself is not a new machine.Ian Starsmore
They ate toffee apples and sweet popcorn, shot at targets, tossed rings and rode on the big wheel.Paulo Lins

Examples of big wheel in a Sentence

He's a big wheel in local politics. rose in the ranks to become a big wheel on Wall Street
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.
Still, expect short overhangs and big wheels, even if not quite the size of these absurdly chrome 24-inchers. Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 13 Aug. 2025 The Lyriq’s long nose and roof create a sporty profile that’s emphasized by big wheel openings with subtle fender flares and a steeply raked rear window. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 Two of the children, ages 9 and 11, were transported down the mountain in a big wheel basket. Hannah Dreyfus, AZCentral.com, 2 July 2025 There was a man riding a toddler’s big wheel with a 40-ounce malt liquor bottle in one hand, and a woman wearing just a torn T-shirt was cursing up a storm. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for big wheel

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of big wheel was in 1893

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20wheel. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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