the big leagues
plural noun
US
: the two highest U.S. baseball leagues (the American League and the National League)
He always dreamed of playing in the big leagues.
—often used figurativelyShe's moving up to the big leagues in the television industry.
She's in the big leagues now, working for a major law firm in a large city.
Examples of the big leagues in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ureña, a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as another potential ace, speaks of Soriano with a giddy amusement mixed with a solemn respect for how the starter has survived in the big leagues.
—
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers, the most magnetic draw in the big leagues, are coming to play the Athletics for a three-game series at Sutter Health Park beginning Monday.
—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
Nothing has figured out a formula that keeps die-hard Android enthusiasts around the world lured in while also showcasing what's possible with a midrange processor that's tuned to play with the big leagues without costing as much.
—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2026
He was traded to the Giants in March 2019 for Tyler Herb, a pitcher who never made it to the big leagues.
—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the big leagues
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.
Liana Handler,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
The Los Angeles Dodgers, the most magnetic draw in the big leagues, are coming to play the Athletics for a three-game series at Sutter Health Park beginning Monday.
—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
Nothing has figured out a formula that keeps die-hard Android enthusiasts around the world lured in while also showcasing what's possible with a midrange processor that's tuned to play with the big leagues without costing as much.
—
Florence Ion,
PC Magazine,
27 June 2026
He was traded to the Giants in March 2019 for Tyler Herb, a pitcher who never made it to the big leagues.
—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the big leagues
Cite this Entry
“The big leagues.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20leagues. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
