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
Their bigs stay closer to the basket now.
—
Fred Katz, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The coaching staff saw how the pairing of Flory Bidunga and Tiller had some issues against bigger bigs.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Auriemma hasn’t shown much confidence in El Alfy the last two seasons, and bigs often take a long time to adjust in UConn’s system, so the Huskies can’t rely on Vukosa to carry a heavy load right away.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026
Luka Garza, who’s played well in most of his appearances since late December, is another viable option if Vucevic scuffles, or if Mazzulla opts to play three bigs.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Until April 4, 2026, the lasting memory between these transcendent but antithetical bigs was that of Jokic’s signature shot thwarted.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
After small ball was all the rage during the late 2010s, NBA teams are now playing lineups with two bigs more frequently.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In footage of their other games, like against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, forwards also will play almost parallel to a team's bigs to eliminate any feeds into the paint.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Purdue is more perimeter-oriented, and what the Boilers get from their bigs is largely a bonus.
—Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
Fred Katz, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The coaching staff saw how the pairing of Flory Bidunga and Tiller had some issues against bigger bigs.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
Auriemma hasn’t shown much confidence in El Alfy the last two seasons, and bigs often take a long time to adjust in UConn’s system, so the Huskies can’t rely on Vukosa to carry a heavy load right away.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026
Luka Garza, who’s played well in most of his appearances since late December, is another viable option if Vucevic scuffles, or if Mazzulla opts to play three bigs.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026
Until April 4, 2026, the lasting memory between these transcendent but antithetical bigs was that of Jokic’s signature shot thwarted.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
After small ball was all the rage during the late 2010s, NBA teams are now playing lineups with two bigs more frequently.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In footage of their other games, like against Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, forwards also will play almost parallel to a team's bigs to eliminate any feeds into the paint.
—Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
Purdue is more perimeter-oriented, and what the Boilers get from their bigs is largely a bonus.
—Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bigs
Noun
-
The last-place Giants, who came in with a major league-low five homers, just missed a potential third long ball when Taylor Ward made a leaping grab at the left-field wall to rob Harrison Bader in the eighth.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Jonathan Daniel /Allsport/ Getty Images Colorado Rockies General Manager Bill Schmidt stepped down last fall after one of the worst seasons in major league history.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dining establishments like sit-down restaurants, drive-thrus, gas stations and grocery stores are required to get food inspections, and governments have to release those inspections to the public.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
11 Apr. 2026
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But even the entry-level Superior Rooms offer good-sized nests for a Florentine sojourn, and there is no such thing as a small bathroom in this establishment (or one, come to that, without enough marble to carve a David).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Casey's General Stores The convenience store chain's stock is going big time, joining the S & P 500 starting Thursday.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
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The Mets bailed him out big time in the bottom of the inning with five runs.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bigs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigs. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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