Big-time
What it means
Highly successful, influential, or prominent in a field.
Reach for it when giving informal praise for reaching a major level
The neighborhood chef became a big-time restaurateur without leaving the old market.
Words to choose between 6
| playful |
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|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
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playful
Fits when status, energy, and influence combine in an informal profile
Careful High-powered can imply pressure, wealth, or aggression.
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everyday
Fits when achievement of goals is the only claim
Careful Successful gives no sense of scale or influence.
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warm
Fits when performance belongs at a very high level
Careful Top-flight is regional and focuses quality more than prominence.
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professional
Fits when the ability to shape decisions or a field is what matters
Careful Influential does not require fame or commercial achievement.
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professional
Fits when scale or importance needs restrained wording
Careful Major does not convey personal success or celebrity.
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formal
prominent
Fits when visibility and recognized standing are central
Careful Prominent may arise from controversy rather than success.
Opposites 3
- small-time
- obscure
- unsuccessful
Common phrases 3
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big-time success
Big-time success gave the studio leverage to protect its apprentices.
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big-time player
The cooperative became a big-time player in regional food distribution.
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big-time career
Her big-time career still made room for the youth orchestra.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Big-time is informal and can imply status or celebrity more than merit.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated