big top

noun

A circus tent, especially the largest in a given circus, where the central attractions take place.

“He had been a big top performer in his youth, but in a twist of fate he had run away to become an investment banker.”

Similar
circus tentround toptop
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Meanings

nounbig top (plural big tops)

plural big tops

  1. A circus tent, especially the largest in a given circus, where the central attractions take place.

    As a trapeze performer, she generally worked in the big top, but due to her injury, she was stuck working concessions.

  2. broadlyA large tent of the style used for circusses.
  3. broadlyThe circus; the circus lifestyle.

    He had been a big top performer in his youth, but in a twist of fate he had run away to become an investment banker.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance

Similar
circus tentround toptop
Broader
canvas tentcanvascanvass
Also see
marqueetop

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From big + top.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

big top. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/big%20top

MLA

“big top.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/big%20top. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “big top,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/big%20top.

Source: big top on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.