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.

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

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

"In my eyes, I feel like it's a big deal not just for the city, but for the country to have such a global icon come here."

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Times, because once, being a British entertainer going to Los Angeles was quite a big deal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

I know some of you are thinking: What’s the big deal?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

“I said Fred’s starring in two new episodes,” Scruffy hollered back casually, as if it was no big deal.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein