big time

American  

noun

• big times
  plural

1. Informal. the highest or most important level in any profession or occupation.

   She's a talented violinist, but she's not ready for the big time.

2. Slang. a very good time.

3. Theater. (in vaudeville) any highly successful circuit of theaters that produces two performances daily.

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big time British  

noun

1. informal

   1. the highest or most profitable level of an occupation or profession, esp the entertainment business

   2. ( as modifier )

      a big-time comedian

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big time Idioms  

1. An enjoyable or exciting time, as in The children came home exhausted but happy; they really had a big time at the circus . [Mid-1800s]

2. The highest or most important level in any enterprise, as in I knew that when I made it through the last audition, I was finally in the big time . [ Colloquial ; c. 1900] Also see big league .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• big-timer
  noun
• big-time
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• big times
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of big time

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

big time

Should I see these mega programs feasting on easy prey, passing the ball in the fourth quarter like Oregon did, and think that’s the way big time sports should be?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

De Zerbi's fierce ambition has been backed big time, so optimism is running high.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

And I always call my mom when I’m driving because she lives in Scotland and I have to take into account the big time difference.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

The lottery-ticket analogy suggests that you’re letting your imagination run away with you — big time.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

The skin tones were a little flat, but they were good enough to bring my mind big time to Mtisha.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

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Related Words

• big league

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