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.
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
In a field dominated by big name brands, consumers may be surprised to learn how many family-owned soft drinks firms remain in the US.
From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026
Jake Falcon, CEO at the Kansas-based Falcon Wealth Advisors, cautioned that while some funds may use a big name as an advertising tool, their actual positions may be too small to meaningfully benefit.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026
A big name for such a little guy.
From "The Thing About Jellyfish" by Ali Benjamin
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.
