the big city
noun phrase
—used to refer to a particular city without naming it
I grew up on a farm, so my move to the big city was a big change.
life in the big city
Examples of the big city in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In a feat rarely seen in the market, the movie’s second weekend far outstripped its first as the story of a country bunny who goes to the big city deeply resonated with local audiences.
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Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
And while the Victorian architecture of San Francisco may be better known, in my humble opinion, the tiny town of Ferndale has the big city beat.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025
To mark the occasion, the pair, who live in New York, took a break from the big city and enjoyed some relaxing — and romantic — time in nature together.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour and sugar.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big city
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Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025
And while the Victorian architecture of San Francisco may be better known, in my humble opinion, the tiny town of Ferndale has the big city beat.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025
To mark the occasion, the pair, who live in New York, took a break from the big city and enjoyed some relaxing — and romantic — time in nature together.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour and sugar.
—Carole Horst, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big city
Cite this Entry
“The big city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20city. Accessed 4 Dec. 2025.
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