Big Ben

noun

1
: a large bell in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament in London
2
: the tower that houses Big Ben
also : the clock in the tower

Examples of Big Ben in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lively was joined at the Savoy Hotel by her costar Isabela Ferrer, who plays a younger version of her character Lily in the movie, as the pair posed for photographers in front of famous London landmarks including Big Ben and the London Eye. Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2024 This politically incorrect comedy is all about getting laughs from blowing up elaborate sets of Big Ben, the Great Pyramids and the Eiffel Tower — as well as 22-inch puppets who resemble outspoken liberal celebrities such as Janeane Garofalo, Tim Robbins and Michael Moore. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 16 July 2024 By virtue of his British birth, the younger Ángel has a U.K. passport and his left arm sports a huge tattoo of Big Ben. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024 Gorgo, who resembles Godzilla with larger claws and finned ears that are, frankly, kind of cute, is captured and sold to a London circus … only for his much, much larger mother to smash through Big Ben and rescue her baby. James Grebey, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Big Ben 

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

Word History

Etymology

Sir Benjamin Hall †1867 English Chief Commissioner of Works

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Big Ben was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near Big Ben

Cite this Entry

“Big Ben.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Big%20Ben. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

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