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Definition of big-timenext
as in big(s)
the highest level of a field of endeavor the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of big-time
Adverb
With the acclaim came the awards, the invitations to give commencement speeches, the honorary degrees, the chance to perform before thousands of fans at big-time sports events. Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 Which isn’t to say that co-viewing has entirely died out in the age of hyper-fragmentation, as big-time sporting events still have the power to fill a living room. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
The year would also end up belonging to Bristol, a small town in Connecticut that was between New York and Boston, but – big time media-wise – couldn’t be any further from them. Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Shakira ended up bonding big time with the adorable crew, who are part of the Ghetto Kids Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to use the arts to help disadvantaged and orphaned children. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for big-time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big-time
Adverb
  • That’s not surprising, though, since the events are not only intended to rev enthusiasm for customized and highly tuned automobiles, but keep the philanthropic legacy of Paul Walker alive.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026
  • In January, the company announced a partnership with South Korean fashion platform Musinsa to deploy its Skypod system at a new logistics center designed to handle hundreds of thousands of SKUs and highly variable demand.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Even so, that is not deterring him from making the case that United should be allowed to get much, much larger.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Bloomberg added or extended more than 40 historic districts and passed more than 80 neighborhood downzonings, while Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams were much more accommodating to real-estate interests.
    David Freedlander, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • The Sweden international expressed a preference to leave even before Spurs signed Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali in club-record deals, which greatly increased the competition for places in midfield.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Within days of each other, Nasdaq announced its acquisition of Instinet, its major electronic rival, while the NYSE announced its merger with Archipelago, greatly speeding up the transition from floor-based to fully electronic trading.
    Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Those responsibilities still matter, but the environment around them has changed considerably.
    Evan Nierman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There's considerably more demand for diesel and gasoline worldwide than there is for motor oil, and the daily volume is high.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • And yet, when Szumowska and Englert portray Fyodor’s reaction to the couple’s pregnancy, the birth of their child, and a subsequent tragedy, Anna’s adoration for this utterly flawed man almost feels justified.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The result is an utterly unique tile that celebrates its imperfections and is widely requested for modern bathrooms and kitchens.
    Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • The attacks have significantly hampered Russia’s refining capacity and prompted widespread fuel shortages, with Moscow recently extending a ban on diesel exports through the end of September as part of a push to stabilize domestic supplies.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Some offerings require significantly more customer support, marketing, staff time or operational attention than others.
    Dmitriy Schwarzburg, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • To go from World Cup stardom back to a league that very few Americans watch, and to a club that averages less than 10,000 fans per game, and to a season in the UEFA Conference League, will be tremendously disappointing.
    Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • With washing, styling, and everyday sun exposure, your hair color can fade tremendously.
    Essence Wiley, InStyle, 2 Sep. 2026
Adverb
  • Rister also says that hotel rates massively drop at this time of year, outside of the peak summer travel months, so the off season is a chance to experience luxurious properties for a fraction of the cost.
    Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Best known for directing the massively popular high-fantasy anime The Vision of Escaflowne, Kazuki Akane’s most recent major work is a charming series about middle-schoolers trying to whip their struggling soft-tennis boys’ club into shape.
    Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big-time. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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