big time
Americannoun
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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.
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Slang. a very good time.
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Theater. (in vaudeville) any highly successful circuit of theaters that produces two performances daily.
noun
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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]
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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.
Conlon got his Wagner big time, including a full “Ring” Cycle, in 2010.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2026
His supporting cast of Europe-based almost-stars will need to coalesce big time.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
Savouring the fruits of his labour is a prospect that should excite Lampard; the crowd at their first home game back in the big time a sight to behold.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
"That's a big time play for us older heads... We know how to keep our heads and execute."
From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026
They had a big time till one man come in who thought he was bad.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
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.
