big-time

1 of 3

adjective

: relating to or involved in the big time
big-time sports
also : major sense 4
big-time operators

big-time

2 of 3

adverb

: in a major or large-scale way
the new show bombed big-time
also : to a great extent or degree
owes me big-time

big time

3 of 3

noun

1
: a high-paying vaudeville circuit requiring only two performances a day
2
: the top rank of an activity or enterprise
big-timer noun

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
Adjective
Longtime television analyst Kirk Herbstreit has called a lot of big-time college football games during his broadcasting career, but his upcoming assignment featuring the Texas Longhorns hosting the Georgia Bulldogs is easily one of the biggest of them all. Dj Siddiqi, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 There was also a big-time commitment from Molly McNearney, Kimmel’s executive producer and wife, as well as his writing staff. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2024
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
The league’s worst special teams broke down big time on the ensuing kickoff, yielding a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to the aforementioned Shenault Jr. That’s just unacceptable in today’s NFL. Vincent Frank, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 But by some force of magic, the internet has uncovered a treatment that just may be able to help—big time. Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for big-time 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'big-time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1910, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of big-time was in 1910

Dictionary Entries Near big-time

Cite this Entry

“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big-time. Accessed 21 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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