big time

American  

noun

1. 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.

2. Slang. a very good time.

3. Theater. (in vaudeville) any highly successful circuit of theaters that produces two performances daily.

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big time British  

noun

1. informal

   1. the highest or most profitable level of an occupation or profession, esp the entertainment business

   2. ( as modifier )

      a big-time comedian

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big time Idioms  

1. 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]

2. 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 .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• big-time
  adjective
• big-timer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of big time

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65

Example Sentences

Artificial intelligence for use in industry is "where I believe Europe can succeed big time around the globe", Thomas Saueressig, a board member at the continent's biggest software maker, told AFP in an interview.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

And when you look there, you’ll see that Jerome Powell and the Fed have cut rates — big time.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

While we wait for that brilliant idea to make it to the NFL’s offices, here are the big game ads we loved the most and a few that fumbled the ball — big time.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2026

Released in November 1990, the album was the band's third and saw them break into the big time, eventually rising to number four in the UK album charts.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

Manny Givens managed about six fighters, all of them fighting in minor fights, only a few of them still hoping for the big time.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

Related Words

• big league