the big time
noun phrase
: the highest or most successful level of an activity
He was a good basketball player but he never made (it to) the big time.
The group performed in small clubs for years before hitting the big time with a record deal.
Examples of the big time in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Howard knows Star Wars, and deserves a shot at the big time.
—
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Kidman is a dynamo in the black comedy about a local weather girl who dreams of hitting the big time, and whose cozy little life of nice clothes, nice car, nice house doesn’t quite align with her desire for more universal fame.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Like the trip to another former Premier League club in Bradford almost exactly a year earlier had felt like affirmation that Wrexham were back in the big time, this visit to The Valley triggered similar emotions about the wilderness years being well and truly over.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Santos’ fans will be buzzing to return to the big time and become competitive once again.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the big time 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Kidman is a dynamo in the black comedy about a local weather girl who dreams of hitting the big time, and whose cozy little life of nice clothes, nice car, nice house doesn’t quite align with her desire for more universal fame.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Jan. 2025
Like the trip to another former Premier League club in Bradford almost exactly a year earlier had felt like affirmation that Wrexham were back in the big time, this visit to The Valley triggered similar emotions about the wilderness years being well and truly over.
—Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Santos’ fans will be buzzing to return to the big time and become competitive once again.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the big time
Dictionary Entries Near the big time
Cite this Entry
“The big time.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20time. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share