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
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
According to Cleaning the Glass, just 26% of Adebayo’s shot attempts this season have come at the rim (26th percentile among NBA bigs) while 36% of his shots this season have come from three-point range (78th percentile among NBA bigs).
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Green and Horford getting six minutes apiece in the first quarter, for example, works as Green would be fresher down the stretch of games to defend the opposition’s bigs.
—Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Not only did San Diego State graduate its three regular bigs – Kim Villalobos, Adryana Quezada and Cali Clark – from the Mountain West Tournament champions, point guard and leading scorer Veronica Sheffey transferred through the portal to TCU.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
All five players will need to be involved, and that is where the bigs enter the conversation.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Florida is probably one of the few teams with the frontcourt strength to neutralize Maryland bigs Derik Queen and Julian Reese.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Johnson is a magnetic three-level scorer, and Morrow has been humiliating opposing bigs with more than five offensive rebounds per game.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
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
According to Cleaning the Glass, just 26% of Adebayo’s shot attempts this season have come at the rim (26th percentile among NBA bigs) while 36% of his shots this season have come from three-point range (78th percentile among NBA bigs).
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Green and Horford getting six minutes apiece in the first quarter, for example, works as Green would be fresher down the stretch of games to defend the opposition’s bigs.
—Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Not only did San Diego State graduate its three regular bigs – Kim Villalobos, Adryana Quezada and Cali Clark – from the Mountain West Tournament champions, point guard and leading scorer Veronica Sheffey transferred through the portal to TCU.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
All five players will need to be involved, and that is where the bigs enter the conversation.
—Eric Nehm, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Florida is probably one of the few teams with the frontcourt strength to neutralize Maryland bigs Derik Queen and Julian Reese.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
Johnson is a magnetic three-level scorer, and Morrow has been humiliating opposing bigs with more than five offensive rebounds per game.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bigs
Noun
-
Steve Hargan, an All-Star once in 12 seasons as a major league pitcher, and a member of the inaugural 1977 Toronto Blue Jays team, has died according to a post to his Facebook page.—
Jon Paul Hoornstra,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
As of Friday afternoon, the only holdovers from last year’s staff appear to be assistant hitting coach Oscar Bernard, first-base coach Mark Hallberg, catching coach Alex Burg and major league quality control coach Taira Uematsu.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These actions helped lay the groundwork for the later establishment of the role of White House Press Secretary, a position first occupied by journalist George Akerson, whom Herbert Hoover had originally hired as his secretary.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Nov. 2025
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In his later years, Watson's reputation was tarnished by comments on genetics and race that led him to be ostracized by the scientific establishment.—
Reuters,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Oil sanctions will hit Russia’s economy, big time.—
Chicago Tribune,
Twin Cities,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The bill cut Medicaid big time.—
Jim Nowlan,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bigs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bigs. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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