the big time
noun phrase
: the highest or most successful level of an activity
He was a good basketball player but he never made (it to) the big time.
The group performed in small clubs for years before hitting the big time with a record deal.
Examples of the big time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nepo Babies Crowd the Runways: The casting craze for celebrity kids hit the big time with the likes of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner.
—
Arlene Hirst, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
What if, when Orange County needed her most, Porter had run for reelection instead of leaving us for the big time?
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
But now the new Chargers head coach wants another shot at the big time.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024
Possible drawback: Success at the mid-major level is never a guarantee of winning in the big time.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024
Gal and Don want in on the big time and that door opens via Teddy.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024
The story involves substance abuse, reckless behavior, self-harm, and coincidental disasters that nonetheless all issue, like dominoes lined up in a hidden design, from one fundamental decision: Fritz’s determination that his sons will wrestle and will strive for the big time.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2023
This is bar food that has made a successful transition to the big time.
—Tim Carman, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023
Both have impressed for Argentine Giants River Plate at underage level and are making their way to the big time.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
Arlene Hirst, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
What if, when Orange County needed her most, Porter had run for reelection instead of leaving us for the big time?
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024
But now the new Chargers head coach wants another shot at the big time.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 2 Feb. 2024
Possible drawback: Success at the mid-major level is never a guarantee of winning in the big time.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2024
Gal and Don want in on the big time and that door opens via Teddy.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024
The story involves substance abuse, reckless behavior, self-harm, and coincidental disasters that nonetheless all issue, like dominoes lined up in a hidden design, from one fundamental decision: Fritz’s determination that his sons will wrestle and will strive for the big time.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2023
This is bar food that has made a successful transition to the big time.
—Tim Carman, Washington Post, 20 Dec. 2023
Both have impressed for Argentine Giants River Plate at underage level and are making their way to the big time.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the big time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the big time
Cite this Entry
“The big time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20time. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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