: relating to or involved in the big time
big-time sports
: in a major or large-scale way
the new show bombed big-time
also
: to a great extent or degree
owes me big-time
1
: a high-paying vaudeville circuit requiring only two performances a day
2
: the top rank of an activity or enterprise
Examples of big-time in a Sentence
Adverb
wow, those renovations improved the library big-time
Noun
the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling
Recent Examples on the Web
Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
The Bucks don’t have the assets, nor the flexibility, to acquire big-time pieces to help him.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
All those things can be potential avenues for big-time infections.
—Ambar Castillo, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Jamie Dupree, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026
And someone who tries out and makes it, who is a transgender girl, will bump someone from the starting lineup, from playing time, from the team, from the all-league [honors], and those things matter to people, big time.
—Gwen Faulkenberry, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for big-time
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Adjective
Their parks along with the Okemo Mountain School have produced some big-time champs like gold medalist Hannah Teeter.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
The Bucks don’t have the assets, nor the flexibility, to acquire big-time pieces to help him.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Read more:Recent live events, rise of David Benavidez show boxing is thriving in Arizona Familia Ramos Anyone who has watched Jesús Ramos fight can see that there is big-time potential in the 22-year-old super welterweight.
—José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
All those things can be potential avenues for big-time infections.
—Ambar Castillo, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Noun
Earmarks are back on Capitol Hill — big time.
—Jamie Dupree, AJC.com, 23 Jan. 2026
And someone who tries out and makes it, who is a transgender girl, will bump someone from the starting lineup, from playing time, from the team, from the all-league [honors], and those things matter to people, big time.
—Gwen Faulkenberry, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for big-time
Cite this Entry
“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big-time. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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