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
Though the Reds tried to convert Joe to a catcher, he’s played first base and the corner-outfield spots in the big leagues.
—
C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Chicago drafted Horton in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft and his debut in the big leagues has been highly anticipated since then.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
The 10 runs allowed in the seventh inning Tuesday by two Padres relievers, against a Yankees offense that leads the big leagues in homefield slug rate, didn’t change that San Diego’s bullpen sat atop the big leagues in a dozen categories going into the game.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
Where did the pair rank, and when are they expected to make the big leagues?
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big leagues
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C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 10 May 2025
Chicago drafted Horton in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft and his debut in the big leagues has been highly anticipated since then.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
The 10 runs allowed in the seventh inning Tuesday by two Padres relievers, against a Yankees offense that leads the big leagues in homefield slug rate, didn’t change that San Diego’s bullpen sat atop the big leagues in a dozen categories going into the game.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025
Where did the pair rank, and when are they expected to make the big leagues?
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 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 23 May. 2025.
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