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
An origin story of sorts that shows the formative years of Barack Obama, Barry follows our 44th president as a college student (played by Devon Terrell) in New York trying to find his footing in the big city.
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Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Until now, she’s been confined to an overcrowded cabin somewhere high in the Alps, cut off from the big city and practically all impact of pop culture.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
He’s now stuck back home, passing his time texting his girlfriend in the big city, longing to break away from the country bumpkin life.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Heroic lead character and longshoreman Terry Malloy stands up to rackets boss Johnny Friendly, gets beaten bloody, and in the final reel leads his fellow longshoremen back into the brutal purgatory of the big city docks.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
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Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025
Until now, she’s been confined to an overcrowded cabin somewhere high in the Alps, cut off from the big city and practically all impact of pop culture.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025
He’s now stuck back home, passing his time texting his girlfriend in the big city, longing to break away from the country bumpkin life.
—Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
Heroic lead character and longshoreman Terry Malloy stands up to rackets boss Johnny Friendly, gets beaten bloody, and in the final reel leads his fellow longshoremen back into the brutal purgatory of the big city docks.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the big city
Cite this Entry
“The big city.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20big%20city. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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