Big Apple
Britishnoun
Etymology
Origin of Big Apple
C20: probably from US jazzmen's earlier use to mean any big, esp northern, city; of obscure origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Knicks have a commanding 2-0 lead in the best of seven series against the San Antonio Spurs, and now the action shifts to the Big Apple for games three and four.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Although Salt Lake City may not be known for the excitement synonymous with the Big Apple, Leavitt has plenty of drama to keep her busy back in production on “Mormon Wives.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
So fans in the Big Apple needed a big draft.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
Altogether, the two Big Apple teams managed a grand total of seven wins between them and sent legions of sad fans back into traffic to escape the Meadowlands.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
The protest in New York was on at the moment, but let me tell you, it didn’t look like a love train chugging through the Big Apple.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
