big name
noun
a person who has a preeminent public reputation in a specified field.
big name
1 Americannoun
big-name
2
American
[big-neym]
/ ˈbɪgˌneɪm /
adjective
-
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.
big name
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of big name1
An Americanism dating back to 1930–35
Origin of big-name2
An Americanism dating back to 1925–30
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.
See Examples For:
Apted went on to become a big name in Hollywood, directing blockbusters including James Bond's The World Is Not Enough, but he always returned to the show and said it was his most significant achievement.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
One big name likely to stay far from the Venice limelight is Elon Musk, the central figure in a documentary from US filmmaker Alex Gibney.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Victory against Croatia's Hrgovic would put Itauma on the path to becoming the next big name in British heavyweight boxing, with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua inching closer to the end of their storied careers.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 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
A big name for such a little guy.
From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin
At a time when many big-name comedians continue to fall out of favor with viewers, that might be Hargitay’s most crucial asset.
From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026
He has slashed .234/.357/.486 over 1,039 regular-season games with the club, anchoring lineups alongside countless big-name teammates while evolving into a trustworthy defender.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
“There just aren’t that many star-level players in the game,” Friedman said Wednesday afternoon when asked how aggressive the Dodgers would be in pursuing big-name players.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
A solid trading debut by SBI Funds Management could provide a much-needed lift to India’s relatively subdued IPO market, indicating robust investor interest in big-name listings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 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.
