as in major league
the highest level of a field of endeavor
a candidate who is running for president is playing in the bigs and cannot afford to make major mistakes
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Recent Examples of bigs
Guards, bigs, everybody just has to rebound, box out and just run.
—
Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
But going through opposing bigs to get to the cup is never going to be his specialty.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The two bigs had a long conversation in the second quarter after Green fouled the Greek superstar on a drive.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The biggest problem is with the bigs, a lack of rim protection forcing Cronin increasingly to go with smaller lineups in recent games.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The Spartans compensated by drawing switches on ball screens, then attacking SDSU’s bigs with drives, pump faking and drawing fouls – over and over and over.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Cherry also resembles one of the best bigs in basketball in Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, from the build to the high hair and the cool and calm demeanor.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
New York's farm system is as good as any, and features several players nearing the bigs.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Arkansas Online, 12 Jan. 2026
But going through opposing bigs to get to the cup is never going to be his specialty.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The two bigs had a long conversation in the second quarter after Green fouled the Greek superstar on a drive.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The biggest problem is with the bigs, a lack of rim protection forcing Cronin increasingly to go with smaller lineups in recent games.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
The Celtics pounded the paint with Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, a pair of bruising bigs who also can force the issue from 3-point range despite their lumbering dispositions.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The Spartans compensated by drawing switches on ball screens, then attacking SDSU’s bigs with drives, pump faking and drawing fouls – over and over and over.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Cherry also resembles one of the best bigs in basketball in Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks, from the build to the high hair and the cool and calm demeanor.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
New York's farm system is as good as any, and features several players nearing the bigs.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bigs
Noun
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Longtime major league reliever Taylor Rogers is close to returning to the team that drafted him in the 11th round of the 2012 amateur draft, an MLB source said Thursday.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
22 Jan. 2026
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The deal was the first for a major league free agent for the Red Sox this season and came after they were outbid for Alex Bregman by the Chicago Cubs, who gave the incumbent Boston third baseman a $175 million, five-year deal with a no-trade provision the Red Sox wouldn't offer.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In the 20th century, the 30-year mortgage and highway construction combined to make suburbia possible, creating strong bonds between middle-class Americans and the political and business establishments.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
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Experts watching the country, however, say the eruption remains an existential crisis for the Islamic Republic, whose latest crackdown is the deadliest since its establishment following the 1979 revolution, a United Nations fact-finding mission said Friday.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And someone who tries out and makes it, who is a transgender girl, will bump someone from the starting lineup, from playing time, from the team, from the all-league [honors], and those things matter to people, big time.—
Gwen Faulkenberry,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
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So that’s just the nature of the beast of being with the New York Yankees, even though giving up control where maybe certain other markets that plays big time.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bigs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigs. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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