: relating to or involved in the big time
big-time sports
: in a major or large-scale way
the new show bombed big-time
also
: to a great extent or degree
owes me big-time
1
: a high-paying vaudeville circuit requiring only two performances a day
2
: the top rank of an activity or enterprise
Examples of big-time in a Sentence
Adverb
wow, those renovations improved the library big-time
Noun
the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling
Recent Examples on the Web
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Things are looking up for Lucy (Tatyana Ali), who just made partner at her big-time New York law firm — but her life is upended when her sister with special needs, Alice (Brittany Guess), unexpectedly passes away.
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
All those things can be potential avenues for big-time infections.
—Ambar Castillo, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Jan. 2026
Other big time matchups on Philadelphia's schedule include an NFC championship game rematch against the Commanders in Week 16, the Lions coming to Philly in Week 11 and the Birds traveling to face MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big-time
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Adjective
But that was missing the point, big-time.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Things are looking up for Lucy (Tatyana Ali), who just made partner at her big-time New York law firm — but her life is upended when her sister with special needs, Alice (Brittany Guess), unexpectedly passes away.
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
Adverb
Read more:Recent live events, rise of David Benavidez show boxing is thriving in Arizona Familia Ramos Anyone who has watched Jesús Ramos fight can see that there is big-time potential in the 22-year-old super welterweight.
—José M. Romero, The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2023
All those things can be potential avenues for big-time infections.
—Ambar Castillo, STAT, 23 Mar. 2023
Noun
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
Other big time matchups on Philadelphia's schedule include an NFC championship game rematch against the Commanders in Week 16, the Lions coming to Philly in Week 11 and the Birds traveling to face MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Week 17.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for big-time
Cite this Entry
“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big-time. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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