big-time 1 of 2

adverb

Definition of big-timenext
as in highly
to a large extent or degree wow, those renovations improved the library big-time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

big time

2 of 2

noun

-ˌtīm How to pronounce big time (audio)
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
  1. highly
  2. much
  3. greatly
  4. considerably
  5. utterly
  6. significantly
  7. tremendously
  8. massively
Adverb
  • The glitzy brand, which started with its Singapore flagship in 1887, is known for its meticulous opulence and highly personalized service.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Lilly may face more questions from investors and the medical community about how well patients tolerate and stay on the highly effective combination therapy.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of highly
Adverb
  • The singer, dressed in all red, much like in the track’s music video, was surrounded by her backup singers for a lively performance of the song, which has taken over social media this past year.
    — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The next time the Panthers take the field, the stakes will be much higher.
    — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of much
Adverb
  • Beyond wanting reform of existing religious options, these various sects differed greatly from each other.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Cat Man is back Reports of the demise of Tony Gonsolin were greatly exaggerated.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of greatly
Adverb
  • The live-action shoot for the virtual world took only five days, which sped up production considerably.
    — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The buzz at Bergamot Station has cooled considerably in recent years.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of considerably
Adverb
  • Charles — my heart hurts for Charles, dead on his farm, wealthy at the time of his passing, and with utterly no one to share it with except a brother who for ten years never wrote him a letter.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Yet these anachronisms seem to make perfect sense, making these 500-year-old poems read like swift, contemporary lyrics, timeless yet utterly urgent.
    — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of utterly
Adverb
  • The modifications made to the vehicle result in an interior that feels significantly roomier and now has actual cargo room, even if its rear row of seats is still cramped.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Its successor, the U6SF Pro, builds on that foundation with significantly higher brightness and even lower input lag for faster, smoother gaming.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of significantly
Adverb
  • The urban centers in this neck of the woods are also very large and—at the risk of chafing readers in the other three-quarters of the country—our biggest towns are also tremendously important.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Some flights were still impacted Tuesday as airlines work to get planes and crews back on schedule, but the numbers have dropped tremendously.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of tremendously
Adverb
  • That’s not to mention what could be a massively consequential midterm election, fueled by AI anxiety among voters, that could test the bounds of their power.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Still, startups are offering up an aggressive pitch to entertainers, audiences, and investors that AI will massively disrupt the way movies are made from Hollywood to Bollywood.
    — John Kell, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of massively

Browse Nearby Words

big-ticket
big-time
big time
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big-time. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of perseverate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All