big deal

[big deel] / ˈbɪg ˈdil /

NOUN

something or someone important

Synonyms

WEAK

VIP big cheese big enchilada big fish big gun big shot big wheel biggie bigwig boss boss man head honcho hotshot important person top dog tycoon very important person

ADJECTIVE

impressive

Synonyms

STRONG

big-league big-time hotshot significant substantial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Victory at Sea was a big deal in its heyday.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

"It's a big deal for us," Nathan said.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

And we all know not to make a big deal about that, right?

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

Caitlin Clark says everybody making a big deal about a heated moment on the bench between her and Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White has gotten it “blatantly wrong.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

I thought, If I could wait till he falls asleep first, then maybe it wouldn’t be a big deal.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

big deal

Example Sentences

Related Words