big beat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low frequency; specific cultural reference)Specialist (music), Informal
Quick answer
What does “big beat” mean?
A type of upbeat electronic dance music, popular in the mid-to-late 1990s, characterized by heavy, distorted breakbeats and rock or pop samples.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of upbeat electronic dance music, popular in the mid-to-late 1990s, characterized by heavy, distorted breakbeats and rock or pop samples.
Informally, can refer to any music with a strong, prominent, and driving rhythmic pattern.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated and was most popular in the UK. In the US, it is recognized primarily by electronic music enthusiasts.
Connotations
In the UK, it strongly connotes the 1990s club scene (e.g., The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim). In the US, it is a more niche genre term.
Frequency
Much more frequent in UK cultural discourse of the late 1990s/early 2000s. Rare in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “big beat” in a Sentence
[the] big beat of [the 1990s][genre] like big beata classic big beat [track/song]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “big beat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb use]
American English
- [No standard verb use]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb use]
American English
- [No standard adverb use]
adjective
British English
- It was the quintessential big beat sound.
American English
- He's known for his big beat productions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in music industry contexts (e.g., 'The label specialized in big beat acts').
Academic
Used in musicology or cultural studies discussing 1990s popular music.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by someone reminiscing about 90s music: 'I used to love that big beat stuff.'
Technical
A specific sub-genre of electronic dance music within DJ and producer communities.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “big beat”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “big beat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “big beat”
- Using it as a general adjective (e.g., 'a big beat tempo' is unnatural). It's a genre name.
- Confusing it with 'Big Band' jazz.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a dominant genre, its peak was the late 1990s. Its influence persists, but it is no longer a mainstream chart force.
No. It is a proper name for a specific electronic genre. While hip-hop has 'beats', they are not called 'big beat'.
Big beat is a sub-genre of breakbeat. It tends to be more maximalist, rock-influenced, and aimed at large clubs, whereas breakbeat is a broader category.
It is commonly written as two separate words: 'big beat'. Some sources may hyphenate it ('big-beat'), especially when used attributively (e.g., big-beat anthem).
A type of upbeat electronic dance music, popular in the mid-to-late 1990s, characterized by heavy, distorted breakbeats and rock or pop samples.
Big beat is usually specialist (music), informal in register.
Big beat: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈbiːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪɡ ˈbit/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the music genre]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BIG drum BEAT that's loud and dominant, like the music itself.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC IS PHYSICAL FORCE (The 'big' beat hits you).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'big beat'?