big name
noun
a person who has a preeminent public reputation in a specified field.
big name
1 Americannoun
big-name
2
American
[big-naym]
/ 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:
Health-ring maker Oura is the latest big name to put its IPO plans on hold, joining a growing list of companies rethinking their public-market debuts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 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
For example, you can't pay player X £5m in year one of an excluded deal, then just £100 in year's two and three, rinse and repeat with a new big name every year.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 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
At LA28, Kennedy will serve as head of ceremonies and content, a post that had been held by another big-name entertainment executive, Peter Rice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
But that hasn’t stopped a big-name manager from recently entering this corner of the market.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
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
The sustained success on the track has allowed Painter and Meadows to expand the scale of their operation, with backing from big-name sponsors helping to add an assistant coach, track-side physiotherapist and dedicated physiologist.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Moss, she’s from NBC. You know, one of them big-name reporters?”
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
