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.

In Catholic school, holy cards are a big deal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Was it really such a big deal to begin with?

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

That’s no big deal if you’re going to binge movies or TV shows for hours or snooze the flight away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

So, it's a very big deal in Canada.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

“It is a big deal, Lexie. It’s an even bigger deal that you don’t see it.”

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam