the big city

noun phrase

used to refer to a particular city without naming it
I grew up on a farm, so my move to the big city was a big change.
life in the big city

Examples of the big city in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Into every generation, a hangout sitcom is born — light on plot, and heavy on the chemistry of a group of young adults spending way too much time together in the big city. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2025 One of the biggest criticisms is that the most dramatic part of the story, the leading man’s temptation in the big city, happens offstage. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025 Emmanuel Macron’s political conquests have, however, provided a contemporary counterexample to provincial defeat in the big city, perhaps serving as inspiration to his grand-nephew-in-law Jean-Baptiste Trogneux. Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 19 May 2025 Over the course of their wistful and chaotic journey into the big city (a two-hour drive from Ibadan that becomes an odyssey unto itself, thanks to Nigeria’s petrol shortage), the boys will come to see their father in a brilliant new light — one that will light up their dreams for decades to come. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 18 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for the big city

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The big city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20city. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!