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 figuratively

She'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

Bradford, now in the rotation, and Montgomery, pitching out of the bullpen, both had elbow surgery and hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2024 before coming back last week. — CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

One of them is Logan Henderson, who is having a nice stretch in the big leagues. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026

No team in the big leagues needed to get off to a good start more than the Giants. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026

One of the prospect pitchers netted in the return, River Ryan, might make it to the big leagues down the stretch. — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for the big leagues

• fatigues
• intrigues