How to Use big-time in a Sentence

big-time

1 of 3 adjective
  • That’s the reason the Pac-Something made big-time sense and still might.
    Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2023
  • And the first big-time superstar to leave the franchise.
    Tim Reynolds, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2024
  • There’s a big ol’ tank of venomous snakes that pays off big-time.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023
  • Like most big-time players, the pitch clock was tested in the minor leagues first.
    Sean McDonnell, cleveland, 22 July 2023
  • The tendrils of the Josh Hader trade have been big-time assets for the Brewers this year.
    Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2023
  • There’s a saying that big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
  • Lots of restaurants led by big-time chefs don’t run so easily right out of the gate.
    Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023
  • In big-time moments, big-time players make big-time plays.
    Mark Inabinett | [email protected], al, 10 Sep. 2023
  • One was to a big-time screenwriter, and the other was to a novelist.
    Andrew Marzoni, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2023
  • But the fan base continues to long for a big-time, field-stretching burner.
    Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2023
  • Who in their right mind thought this club was ready to push past 90 wins, even with some big-time pitching moves in the offseason?
    Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 17 Aug. 2023
  • And these big-time Hollywood stars wrote checks to keep the movement going.
    Jada Yuan, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2023
  • Duran has turned himself into the kind of player who can front a big-time trade.
    Evan Grant, Dallas News, 26 July 2023
  • Joanna Gaines had a big-time celebrity crush back in the day – on David Letterman!
    Eric Todisco, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Big egos, big money, big tracks, and thanks to a certain Netflix show, big-time fan growth in the United States.
    Roberto Baldwin, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2023
  • But this season, Towns is playing for a big-time winner.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024
  • Schuyler has also taken a liking to some of the trappings of big-time college sports.
    Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2023
  • But he’s been a big-time, if unheralded, right tackle in the NFL for nearly a decade.
    Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 26 Aug. 2023
  • The Iowa deer boasts big-time mass and those club-like drop-tines definitely add some eye appeal.
    Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 27 Mar. 2024
  • The other two games are smaller and were never meant to be big-time exclusives.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024
  • This time, Adonis has to balance his career as a big-time fighter with his life outside the ring.
    Good Housekeeping, 16 Apr. 2023
  • McCarthy raved about the latest big-time addition to the defense.
    Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas News, 11 Sep. 2023
  • Yes, there are jobs, big-time, good-paying varsity jobs, up for grabs in advance of the NHL season.
    Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Sep. 2023
  • And the guy who produced it was Howard Koch, who had a legitimate movie career and big-time credits.
    Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 29 Sep. 2023
  • The Aztecs’ success under football coach Don Coryell in the 1960s fueled the notion of big-time athletics.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2023
  • And reveal all the bittersweet epiphanies that come with big-time success.
    Peter Marks, Washington Post, 9 Nov. 2023
  • So bringing in two big-time, team-changing, game-winning players on deals with no downside is a big deal.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
  • Apparently not in the world of big-time college football.
    Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, 2 Dec. 2022
  • The pint-size music mecca of Denton is getting a big-time national boost this week.
    Thor Christensen, Dallas News, 4 Apr. 2023
  • These candid stories remind viewers that flopping big-time is inevitable in life - but bouncing back stronger is possible.
    Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

big-time

2 of 3 adverb
  • James Marsden has a blast as a big-time actor whose surprise birthday goes awry.
    Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 17 Feb. 2023
  • Last season, the Aggies relied on a lot of big-time plays to get them out of trouble as offenses were able to dust the secondary down the field.
    Dallas News, 23 Feb. 2023
  • The best active boxer from Detroit is fighting this weekend on the other side of the world because his hometown does not host big-time bouts these days.
    Larry Lage, Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2023
  • Sadly, those antiquated notions no longer have a place in the landscape of big-time college sports.
    Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2023
  • During 2020, the first year of the pandemic, spending on outdoor advertising slumped big-time when folks were home and spending far less time in their cars.
    Evan Nicole Brown, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2023
  • But Kamani Johnson punched back with a big-time motor bucket after an Anthony Black miss.
    Scottie Bordelon, Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2023
  • Capton and Niel are being backed by a consortium which includes Matthieu Pigasse, a big-time financier who is the third co-founder of Mediawan, among others.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 16 Mar. 2023
  • To save his name, his business, his pride, and even his soul, Adonis—who is long retired from boxing—decides to challenge Dame in a big-time bout, and to endure the rigorous training that the return to the ring entails.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2023
  • Landing big-time athletic programs that are competitive in multiple sports, not just football and basketball.
    Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 17 Feb. 2023

big time

3 of 3 noun
  • The event charmed with its vibe of small town meets the big time.
    Matthew J. Palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, 7 Mar. 2018
  • This is a big time for space, though not in a good way.
    Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 July 2011
  • Talk about a group of plants that has hit the big time in a hurry!
    Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 30 Mar. 2018
  • Out of nowhere, you were just thrown into the big time.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2022
  • Scotland, and the Tartan Army, is now back in the big time.
    New York Times, 14 June 2021
  • Thanks to all that water, the bugs are on the rise in the Houston area, big time.
    David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 6 Sep. 2017
  • That path has taken him from the small time to now the big time, if that’s what the Utes are.
    Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 27 Mar. 2021
  • The Colts struggle big time this year and the Bengals roll.
    The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2023
  • From Software hit the big time with its Souls genre of games.
    Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2021
  • The crowds are turning out big time to hear Sanders make that case.
    Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The banks just got over big time, and Congress helped them do it.
    Monique Judge, The Root, 24 Oct. 2017
  • Then he was scouted for the big time: Cirque du Soleil.
    Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2022
  • Those threes were Neale’s only points of the game but came at a big time.
    James Weber, The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2022
  • Don’t give up on him.’’’ The feeling paid off — big time.
    Tom Canavan, BostonGlobe.com, 8 June 2019
  • Maybe now, finally, the Browns are ready for the big time.
    Barry Wilner, Star Tribune, 16 Oct. 2020
  • Maeve Egan was big time with 15 points in the second half against Marist.
    Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2022
  • More:911 calls from Brent Spence Bridge crash: 'My truck's on fire big time.
    Sarah Brookbank, The Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2020
  • Whatever the cause, Nike picked up the pace — big time.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Whatever the cause, Nike picked up the pace — big time.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But if the past year has taught me anything, it’s that plans change — big time.
    Sumiko Wilson, refinery29.com, 6 Jan. 2021
  • In fact, the year away worked to his advantage – big time.
    Jason McDaniel, Houston Chronicle, 13 Mar. 2018
  • This is not a big time commitment and is sure to be a lot of fun!
    Shirley MacFarland, cleveland.com, 19 Jan. 2018
  • Each young star had a different (quick) path to the big time.
    Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Apr. 2018
  • And like all iPhones, throwing in the extras will cost you, big time.
    Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2020
  • At North Texas, that balance paid off big time in 2018.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2021
  • But podcasts that hit the big time are few and far between.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021
  • The next scene is our first big time jump—around four or so years later.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2022
  • Taking a leap of faith can pay off big time, so speak your truth.
    Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2023
  • Brooks put his head down and made two big time runs in the first overtime to put Texas Tech in the end zone.
    Dallas News, 10 Sep. 2022
  • Brett Baty’s choice to hold onto his high school ride just paid off big time.
    Nicolas Vega, CNBC, 22 Feb. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'big-time.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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