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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Fitzgerald debuted last season at age 30 after a long journey through the minor leagues and played in 24 major league games for the Twins.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
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Kepler, who turns 33 next month, is an 11-year major league veteran who spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies after playing his first 10 seasons with the Minnesota Twins.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Hellyer however noted that for now Iran’s powerful security establishment remains intact.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
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The regime boasted about its security establishment, and yet, in June, Israel and the United States joined together to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities with almost no resistance.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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Plus, hair transformations are often used to convey big time jumps in TV shows, and that scene takes place 18 months after the big battle with the Mind Flayer and Vecna.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bigs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigs. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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