big name

noun

Synonyms of big namenext
: a performer or personage of top rank in popular recognition
a big name in the business world
big-name
ˈbig-ˌnām How to pronounce big name (audio)
adjective

Examples of big name in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Small research project caught fire after ICE shootings When Berlin began her research in April 2025, two big names immediately caught her attention. — Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Before today, just 30 people had received the award, and most of them are pretty big names. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026 On Wednesday, Variety published a story noting that a slate of high-profile clients has departed from UTA, putting the agency on edge and leading to speculation about whether other big names will jump to rival agencies. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The plight of immigrants is one of the defining moral issues of our time, and more and more big name musicians are following the trail Parton blazed so long ago. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for big name

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big name was in 1881

Rhymes for big name

See All Rhymes for big name

Browse Nearby Words

bigmouthed
big name
big neck
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big%20name. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All