Phrase guide

big wheel

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 great deal of power or influence, especially a high-ranking person in an organization.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • She's a big wheel at IBM.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: big cheese, big enchilada, big kahuna, baron, big gun, big man, big name, big noise, big shot, bigwig, 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 Ferris wheel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland, UK

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A low-riding tricycle with a large front wheel.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

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 shot, big gun, 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

(tricycle): Originally a brand name.