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Synonyms

big shot

American  

noun

Informal.

  1. an important or influential person.

big shot British  

noun

  1. informal an important or influential person

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
big shot Idioms  

  1. see under big cheese.

Etymology

Origin of big shot

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later in the chat, a Binance VIP client manager said: “Karry the big shot, haha. Boss Rock has mentioned you before.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

On “Father Figure,” Swift sings about a big shot taking a “protégé” under their wing—and demanding total loyalty in return.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

These days Joel isn’t Anthony or Mama Leone or even Mr. Cacciatore — he’s the big shot who owns the medical center, not to mention whatever else is available on Sullivan Street.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

"Not a big shot or having high thoughts of himself. He was back in training and being the same kid."

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2025

He drove up and down Highway One in a black Cadillac SUV, and he wore bright flowered shirts and smoked real Cuban cigars, just to let the world know what a big shot he was.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.