How to Use big-time in a Sentence

big-time

1 of 3 adjective
  • That was a big-time shot for her.
    — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Snider if Snider were big-time.
    — Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
  • This is a big-time win for Poles.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The purchase paid off big-time.
    — Thor Christensen, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • But that was missing the point, big-time.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
  • That would take a big-time effort, but who knows?
    — Tyler Palmateer, Nashville Tennessean, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Now, should big-time players show up in big-time games?
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
  • There’s a big ol’ tank of venomous snakes that pays off big-time.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023
  • And that edge showed up big-time Friday night.
    — Dane Brugler, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Those are the kind of odds that deserve a boost in the form of a big-time trade.
    — Chad Graff, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The future of big-time pro sports around here is both male and female.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
  • Smitty made some big-time catches.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
  • 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
  • The roster rose up big-time when Adebayo went out.
    — Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Wade was a big-time recruit in … 2017.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 3 June 2026
  • And there was big-time synergy between the two of them.
    — Fab 5 Freddy, Vanity Fair, 2 Mar. 2026
  • That might be a stretch, but Lewis was a big-time addition.
    — Cj Moore june 2, New York Times, 2 June 2026
  • Some late, big-time pass-catching help for the team that once drafted him in the first round.
    — James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
  • The top 25 players are all going to big-time schools.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
  • But this was more about big-time players winning on big-time courses.
    — ABC News, 8 June 2026
  • One position that needs some big-time help is linebacker.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Ross' work led to the club hosting numerous big-time events.
    — Don Bell, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • Two big-time Joshs, O’Connor and Brolin, are in it.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Like most big-time players, the pitch clock was tested in the minor leagues first.
    — Sean McDonnell, cleveland, 22 July 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
  • Even big-time cost-slashing can’t save it forever.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 9 May 2026
  • Snead has made just four outside additions so far, but two of them count as big-time swings.
    — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Sellers showed off his big-time ability.
    — Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2025
  • Both Jayhawks stepped up big-time on Wednesday.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Duran has turned himself into the kind of player who can front a big-time trade.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 26 July 2023

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, 2023-02-17
  • Sadly, those antiquated notions no longer have a place in the landscape of big-time college sports.
    — Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 2023-03-01
  • 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, 2023-02-23
  • 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, 2023-03-11
  • 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, 2023-03-10
  • 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, 2023-03-02

big time

3 of 3 noun
  • Will there be big time jump in the film?
    — Sam Reed, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025
  • On top of that, there’s a big time crunch.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2025
  • The event charmed with its vibe of small town meets the big time.
    — Matthew J. Palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, 7 Mar. 2018
  • A little courage can pay off big time.
    — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The team is in trouble big time.
    — Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The concept has clicked big time.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
  • But, credit isn’t just due to the work of big time movie stars.
    — Essence, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Taking a leap of faith can pay off big time, so speak your truth.
    — Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2023
  • Talk about a group of plants that has hit the big time in a hurry!
    — Neil Sperry, star-telegram, 30 Mar. 2018
  • The Bay Area is about to warm up, big time.
    — Anthony Edwards, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Paper Tiger may just change that – big time.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 16 May 2026
  • The next scene is our first big time jump—around four or so years later.
    — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 12 Apr. 2022
  • The Knicks have the pressure on them big time right now.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Five years later, that gamble has paid off — big time.
    — Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 14 Feb. 2026
  • The crowds are turning out big time to hear Sanders make that case.
    — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • 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
  • Philly, being Philly, rubbed it in — big time — in the ninth.
    — Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 19 May 2025
  • This all-in-one system has leveled up my styling game big time.
    — Jennifer Chan, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
  • But once the adrenaline wore off, tears came and fear crept in big time.
    — Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
  • Those threes were Neale’s only points of the game but came at a big time.
    — James Weber, The Enquirer, 5 Mar. 2022
  • That decision paid off big time.
    — ABC News, 20 June 2026
  • From Software hit the big time with its Souls genre of games.
    — Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2021
  • Clark has come up big time and again for the Timbers this season.
    — Jamie Goldberg, oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2019
  • That means now the supply shortages are going to kick in big time.
    — ABC News, 26 Apr. 2026
  • And like all iPhones, throwing in the extras will cost you, big time.
    — Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY, 13 Nov. 2020
  • The bill cut Medicaid big time.
    — Jim Nowlan, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But outside zone takes a big time investment to run at all, let alone run well.
    — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The Mets bailed him out big time in the bottom of the inning with five runs.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and food prices are all on the upswing — big time.
    — Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026

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.

Last Updated: