big band

noun

: a band that is larger than a combo and that usually features a mixture of ensemble playing and solo improvisation typical of jazz or swing

Examples of big band in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And it’s been credited with helping ignite a rebirth in Latin big band music with its genre-spanning catalog of original tunes and classy covers of composers ranging from Stevie Wonder to Dizzy Gillespie to Sergei Rachmaninoff. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2024 But his professional persona in those pre-TV days was honed by radio, movies and the big band music of the era. Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2024 The concert features traditional jazz, swing and big band music performed by the award-winning Valley Center Middle and High school Jazz Bands, directed by Jeff Beck. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 This includes a 900-square-foot hall to accommodate groups such as big band ensembles, as well as two 450-square-foot spaces for combo and ensemble instruction and rehearsal. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 17 Feb. 2024 There was talk of the second album going in a big band direction. Jeremy Hallock, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2024 What Bonamassa did take from King is his big band, full of fine players and a classy stage presentation. L. Kent Wolgamott, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2024 Minton’s in Harlem was where jazz musicians, from out-of-towners to locals performing in nearby big band theaters in Harlem, sought refuge during late-night jam sessions and a new genre, bebop, was born. Mia Jackson, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024 Blaine and Kurt perform this as a part of the old-timey, black-and-white local TV special, with a big band vibe that perfectly fits the set. Vulture, 19 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'big band.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big band was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near big band

Cite this Entry

“Big band.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20band. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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!