big time
Americannoun
-
big times
plural
-
Informal. the highest or most important level in any profession or occupation.
She's a talented violinist, but she's not ready for the big time.
-
Slang. a very good time.
-
Theater. (in vaudeville) any highly successful circuit of theaters that produces two performances daily.
noun
-
An enjoyable or exciting time, as in The children came home exhausted but happy; they really had a big time at the circus . [Mid-1800s]
-
The highest or most important level in any enterprise, as in I knew that when I made it through the last audition, I was finally in the big time . [ Colloquial ; c. 1900] Also see big league .
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of big time
An Americanism dating back to 1860–65
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.
With a little over a year to go before he can officially join Manchester City, United States wonderkid Cavan Sullivan has taken his next step towards the big time.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
Should I see these mega programs feasting on easy prey, passing the ball in the fourth quarter like Oregon did, and think that’s the way big time sports should be?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026
That could pay off big time for investors.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Never thought he was the man for this job - and he's proving me right, big time.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Okay, I had to go for the big time.
From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers
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.
