Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Sports Major-league.
  • adjective Informal Prominent or important; major.
  • adjective Informal Impressive or formidable.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective US major-league
  • adjective US (by extension) large or important

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Banuelos might have been even better, cutting up the heart of the Detroit Tigers order Monday in his first taste of big-league hitters —getting All-Star Victor Martinez to ground out, then striking out Jhonny Peralta and Brandon Inge on curveballs.

    Two Strong, Young Arms Turn Heads in Yankees Camp Daniel Barbarisi 2011

  • After interviewing a slew of big-league drug-runners, Mr. Rastello, a reporter for Rome-based La Reppublica, has woven their stories together into the true-but-fictional memoir of a single, composite smuggler—though why such a figure would ever think of himself as "The Market," as opposed to someone who supplies goods to a market, Mr. Rastello never explains.

    Smuggler's Tales Bruno Maddox 2011

  • His fellow coach on the team was Lawrence Columbus Davis, who had a brief big-league career.

    Buddy Lewis, Nats star and WWII pilot, dies at 94 2011

  • "That's what I wanted, against big-league hitters to see how can I pitch?"

    Two Strong, Young Arms Turn Heads in Yankees Camp Daniel Barbarisi 2011

  • Going into spring training, the focus was on Chamberlain and Hughes, starting pitchers the Yankees have shifted to the bullpen during their formative big-league seasons.

    Yankees are always dangerous, but now they're armed 2010

  • And today, in his second spring training game, Harper moved on with his first hit on a big-league field, an opposite field single off of hard-throwing New York Mets right-handed reliever Pedro Beato.

    Bryce Harper records his first hit during Nationals spring training 2011

  • When Evan Longoria signed a nine-year contract six games into his big-league career, the Tampa Bay Rays took on the biggest commitment ever made to an unproven prospect.

    The Rays Got a Bargain With Longoria 2011

  • "When you're a former big-league player, you have to lose the players' respect," Leyland said.

    Collins Is a Leyland Protege 2011

  • End 5, 2:29: Bryce Harper pinch-hit for Jayson Werth with one out and lashed an opposite-field to left, his big-league hit, off Pedro Beato.

    Nationals spring training live blog, Jayson Werth Debut Edition 2011

  • After his strong debut, he said he still harbors hopes of pitching so well this spring that he forces his way into the big-league rotation early.

    Two Strong, Young Arms Turn Heads in Yankees Camp Daniel Barbarisi 2011

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