having a widespread public reputation as a leader in a specified field; famous.
a big-name doctor; a big-name actress.
of, relating to, or composed of a big-name person or persons.
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
An Americanism dating back to 1925–30
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It robs the Games of another big name, and Team Scotland of a poster girl.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Pop star Christina Aguilera has been announced as the final big name addition to the line-up for a royal estate music event.
From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2026
The easy thing then would have been to play it safe and hire a big name from the glittering ranks of unemployed managers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
To use as bargaining chips for either a big name like the Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo or, better yet, to acquire important foundational pieces to retrofit the roster around Luka Doncic?
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
They march to the border of Grosse Pointe with his big name and his face on big posters, and they shout, “I am Kasim Anderson!”
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
Meanwhile, corporations and big-name philanthropists lined up to say they would be adding money.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 2, 2026
Unfortunately for the Clippers, Leonard, George and the era’s other big-name players were rarely healthy or at their peaks when the lights were brightest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
While big-name celebrities are expected to be in attendance, neither US president Donald Trump nor Canadian prime minister Mark Carney will be at either of their countries' opening matches.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Early investors include Khosla Ventures, Thrive Capital and Microsoft, and it has since raised even more from big-name investors and companies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
“Moss, she’s from NBC. You know, one of them big-name reporters?”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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.
