as in bigs
the highest level of a field of endeavor
when you've landed a tenure-track position at that university, you're playing in the major leagues
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of major leagues
This summer’s transfer window was a record-setting one, with Premier League teams spending more than £3billion — seven of the 20 clubs paid the highest fee in their history — as the division outspent Europe’s other four major leagues combined.
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Liam Tharme, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Sakiewicz brings three decades of leadership across major leagues and venues and will advise Vivenu on strategy, partnerships and product direction for its sports and entertainment verticals.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Baseball has been slower than most major leagues to bring women into its officiating ranks.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Liam Tharme, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Sakiewicz brings three decades of leadership across major leagues and venues and will advise Vivenu on strategy, partnerships and product direction for its sports and entertainment verticals.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Baseball has been slower than most major leagues to bring women into its officiating ranks.
—Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for major leagues
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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With prices so high, media companies are narrowing their packages, leaving some big leagues like the NBA spread across more networks and streamers.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
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For the first time in a summer transfer window, spending on new signings by England’s top 20 clubs outstripped that of those in the other four big leagues — Serie A, La Liga, the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 — combined.—
James McNicholas,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Major leagues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/major%20leagues. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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