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 yeah, the Dead Kennedys were a big deal in my late teens.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2026

They may be dignified or downright quirky and playfully no big deal, just a here-we-go.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

“The Internet wasn’t the big deal it is today,” she said.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix