Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

big picture

/bɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃɚ/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.02 in modern English

Syllables
big pic-ture
IPA
/bɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃɚ/
17
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
2
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The totality of a situation.

noun

The main film in a double feature.

British usage; Dated

noun

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

Example Sentences

Etymology

From a figurative sense of picture meaning "situation." First attested in 1904.

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /bɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃɚ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Phrases

bigger picture bigger fish to fry the forest for the trees

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce big picture?
The recorded pronunciation is /bɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃɚ/.
What does big picture mean?
The totality of a situation.
Where does big picture come from?
From a figurative sense of picture meaning "situation." First attested in 1904.

How to pronounce big picture

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “big picture”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bɪɡ ˈpɪk(t)ʃɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “big picture”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “big picture” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.