Phrase guide

big shot

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A person with a reputation of importance or power.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • They stopped traffic so some big shot and his entourage could have the whole road to themselves.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bigwig, baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big man, big name, big noise, big shot, big wheel, boss, grand poobah, head honcho, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high muckamuck, high muckety-muck, king of all one surveys, king of the castle, king of the hill, kingpin, macher, mayor, muckamuck, muckety muck, mugwump, numero uno, panjandrum, poobah, rooster, somebody, top banana, top boy, top cat, top dog, top gun, very important person, VIP, wheel

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A rare and significant chance to achieve fame or success.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

  • her one big shot at the brass ring

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see big, shot.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

an important influential person

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he thinks he's a big shot
  • she's a big deal in local politics
  • the Qaeda commander is a very big fish

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: big gun, big wheel, big cheese, big deal, big enchilada, big fish, head honcho

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: important person, influential person, personage

Narrower terms: knocker, supremo

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.