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.
Newcastle do not want to lose another big name in Bruno Guimaraes, but the captain's future is uncertain after he intimated he wished to join Arsenal.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
Heron Power, a start-up focused on making solid-state transformers for data centers, has been raising money at a fast clip from big name investors.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 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
Those payouts can range from a few hundred dollars for social-media posts promoting a local restaurant to five-figure trading card deals for big name players.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026
A big name for such a little guy.
From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin
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
Less successful is Ms. Waldman’s insistence on densely seeding her narrative with big-name cultural figures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The company has taken steps to restore investor confidence, which includes striking big-name partnerships.
From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 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.
