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

compare big crunch, big rip

Examples of big bang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Only that musical big bang didn’t happen in Nashville or Austin. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2025

But then my feet rippled the surface, and the darkness exploded with glitter—a quiet big bang around my ankles in the previously dark universe of Panama’s Bahía Almirante. —Billie Cohen, AFAR Media, 30 Apr. 2025

This year’s observations documented something different than a normal big bang. —Jules Jacobs, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2025

Indian star Ajay Devgn’s latest outing, Raid 2 made its debut at the global box office with a big bang. —Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for big bang

• harangue
• orang
• boomerang
• overhang
• chuang
• clang
• dang
• drang
• fang
• gang
• gangue
• hang

Kids Definition

big bang

noun

: the explosion that caused the beginning of the universe according to the big bang theory