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
Emmanuel Macron’s political conquests have, however, provided a contemporary counterexample to provincial defeat in the big city, perhaps serving as inspiration to his grand-nephew-in-law Jean-Baptiste Trogneux.
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Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Over the course of their wistful and chaotic journey into the big city (a two-hour drive from Ibadan that becomes an odyssey unto itself, thanks to Nigeria’s petrol shortage), the boys will come to see their father in a brilliant new light — one that will light up their dreams for decades to come.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 May 2025
Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Nelson County feels like a world away from the big city.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2025
Women will leave behind the dating apps and pursuit of love in ‘the big city’ in favor of classic American courtship.
—Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big city
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Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Over the course of their wistful and chaotic journey into the big city (a two-hour drive from Ibadan that becomes an odyssey unto itself, thanks to Nigeria’s petrol shortage), the boys will come to see their father in a brilliant new light — one that will light up their dreams for decades to come.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 May 2025
Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Nelson County feels like a world away from the big city.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 5 May 2025
Women will leave behind the dating apps and pursuit of love in ‘the big city’ in favor of classic American courtship.
—Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 20 Mar. 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 27 May. 2025.
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