the big city
noun phrase
—used to refer to a particular city without naming it
I grew up on a farm, so my move to the big city was a big change.
life in the big city
Examples of the big city in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Those are some of the reasons why IndyCar has found a new home by leaving the big city of Toronto and heading to the suburbs of Markham, Ontario in 2026.
—
Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Located just a 45-minute drive outside of Brussels, Brugelette, Belgium, at just 20 square miles in size, is a welcome refuge from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
The two eventually got back together, but struggled to overcome trust issues and their differences in lifestyle: Aidan loved the country life, while Carrie was committed to the big city.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Perhaps many once lived in the big city and bolted for the suburbs.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big city
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Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Located just a 45-minute drive outside of Brussels, Brugelette, Belgium, at just 20 square miles in size, is a welcome refuge from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025
The two eventually got back together, but struggled to overcome trust issues and their differences in lifestyle: Aidan loved the country life, while Carrie was committed to the big city.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Perhaps many once lived in the big city and bolted for the suburbs.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big city
Cite this Entry
“The big city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20city. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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