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
Brian believed Hoby, a projectable lefty, had the best chance of making the big leagues as a reliever.
—
Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Cox managed eight years in the Yankees’ minor league system before moving up to the big leagues as Billy Martin’s first base coach in 1977 and earning his first World Series ring.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
He can be seen as a dogged competitor who used his edge to push his way to the big leagues.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 May 2026
The hope is Snelling can ease into the big leagues like his fellow teammates coming in from Jacksonville did.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the big leagues
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Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Cox managed eight years in the Yankees’ minor league system before moving up to the big leagues as Billy Martin’s first base coach in 1977 and earning his first World Series ring.
—Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
He can be seen as a dogged competitor who used his edge to push his way to the big leagues.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 May 2026
The hope is Snelling can ease into the big leagues like his fellow teammates coming in from Jacksonville did.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 May 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 13 May. 2026.
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