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

Falls Church’s location means visitors can easily access all the attractions of the big city, while still getting to experience the charm and character of a small Southern town. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026

For Sue Decker, a conversation about custom paper clips proved the tipping point that compelled her to leave the big city and literally go back to the land. —Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025

But ever since De Souza and his wife and business partner Sydney Younggreen began opening — and closing — their restaurant concepts in Denver, it’s been hard not to equate them with the big city. —Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2025

Netflix Oswald Set in a world filled with kindness, Oswald the oversized octopus navigates life in the big city alongside his friends Henry and Daisy. —Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for the big city

• fugacity
• intercity
• lubricity
• rhythmicity
• seismicity
• sphericity
• subcommittee
• tendinitis
• atomicity
• catholicity
• ellipticity
• historicity