the big leagues
plural noun
US
: the two highest U.S. baseball leagues (the American League and the National League)
He always dreamed of playing in the big leagues.
—often used figurativelyShe's moving up to the big leagues in the television industry.
She's in the big leagues now, working for a major law firm in a large city.
Examples of the big leagues in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Boston already has Rafael Devers, Kristian Campbell, Trevor Story, and Alex Bregman in the big leagues.
—
Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Perez, who underwent Tommy John surgery on April 8 of last year, could be back in the big leagues sometime in June.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
Hinds had two steals in his time in the big leagues last year and 20 in 99 games with the Bats.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
The third baseman is the first player in the big leagues to do it since J.D. Martinez — also for the D-backs — in 2017.
—David Brant, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025
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Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Perez, who underwent Tommy John surgery on April 8 of last year, could be back in the big leagues sometime in June.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2025
Hinds had two steals in his time in the big leagues last year and 20 in 99 games with the Bats.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
The third baseman is the first player in the big leagues to do it since J.D. Martinez — also for the D-backs — in 2017.
—David Brant, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big leagues
Cite this Entry
“The big leagues.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20leagues. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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