big-time 1 of 2

adverb

Definition of big-timenext
as in highly
to a large extent or degree wow, those renovations improved the library big-time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

big time

2 of 2

noun

-ˌtīm How to pronounce big time (audio)
as in big(s)
the highest level of a field of endeavor the young ad execs knew that their agency had hit the big time when major corporations came calling

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of big-time
Adverb
Though Wilson has made short films before, The History of Concrete is his feature-length debut, executive-produced by a Safdie, with a big-time distributor (Magnolia Pictures) and a festival premiere behind it. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 As a guest on a 2024 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the singer shared the adorable story of how his sons Matteo and Valentino first discovered their dad was a big-time musician. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
Shakira ended up bonding big time with the adorable crew, who are part of the Ghetto Kids Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to use the arts to help disadvantaged and orphaned children. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 New data from Airbnb suggests that strategy can pay off big time. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for big-time
Recent Examples of Synonyms for big-time
  1. highly
  2. much
  3. greatly
  4. considerably
  5. utterly
  6. significantly
  7. tremendously
  8. massively
Adverb
  • Its work-in-progress was also one of five titles at the 2025 prestigious and highly selective Annecy Animation Showcase at the Cannes Festival’s Marché du Film.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Despite its highly specialized geometry, the Swoop felt like a fundamentally good bicycle.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of highly
Adverb
  • Chaco Canyon was the cultural and economic heart of a roughly 60,000-square-kilometer area that, up until the mid-1100s CE, was a much greener American Southwest.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Still, with the right conditions, getting close to beds without bumping deer becomes much easier.
    — Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of much
Adverb
  • But the way those retailers have reported those refunds and incorporated them into their earnings has differed greatly, leading to confusion about how to read the strength of their results and their future outlooks.
    — Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The new calendar was one part of a proposal from the owners that sought to greatly revise and limit baseball transactions.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of greatly
Adverb
  • So what had begun as a high school problem-solving project became something considerably more ambitious.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 25 Aug. 2026
  • My analysis, built on the County’s framework and precedent, puts the exposure at a considerably higher level.
    — Joseph M. Singer, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of considerably
Adverb
  • This powerful dream sequence shows Sarah and the rest of Los Angeles utterly annihilated by a nuclear blast.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Fast-forward to today, and the brand’s shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, hair masks, and more are flying off the shelf—while the bond-repairing-product business is utterly booming.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of utterly
Adverb
  • This is significantly higher than Wall Street's most optimistic prediction.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Dolly Parton’s music has significantly surged on Spotify following her death on Tuesday, with total streams increasing over 1,260% globally and 2,320% in the United States compared to the prior seven-day daily average.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of significantly
Adverb
  • Their performances keep the audience guessing about both characters until Holloway finally brings the pieces together in a tremendously satisfying finale.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Morant falls tremendously and probably could have fallen even more.
    — Zach Harper, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of tremendously
Adverb
  • That will be true regardless of the Rangers’ outlook, although the value could spike massively if New York struggles.
    — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Ronstadt and Harris recorded the massively successful, Grammy-winning 1987 album Trio with Parton, following up 12 years later with Trio II.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of massively

Browse Nearby Words

big-ticket
big-time
big time
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Big-time.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/big-time. 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