big top

noun

1
: the main tent of a circus
2

Examples of big top in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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When the big top is raised, the workers clamber and flip with acrobatic flair. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026 While the professional circus operations eventually moved on, Peru's big top legacy stuck around, and the town has been home to the Peru Amateur Circus since 1960. Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026 The animal-free experience features circus arts under a traditional big top tent. Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025 The clown’s job was to offer something extraordinary to keep circus crowds in their seats and to entice sideshow visitors back to the big top for the main events. Time, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big top

Word History

First Known Use

1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of big top was in 1763

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Cite this Entry

“Big top.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20top. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

big top

noun
1
: the main tent of a circus
2

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