shooting star

noun

1
: a visual meteor appearing as a temporary streak of light in the night sky
2
: any of several North American perennial herbs (genus Primula, especially P. meadia) of the primrose family that have entire oblong leaves and showy flowers with reflexed petals
3
: one resembling a shooting star especially in sudden and temporary brilliance

Examples of shooting star in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Earth also collides with space rocks, called meteors, that show up as shooting stars in the night sky. Alexander E. Gates, The Conversation, 5 May 2025 Stargazers can see clusters of shooting stars and planets lighting up the California night sky in May. Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 4 May 2025 Read on for a handful of January night-sky sights to kick off 2025 with a bang — or, better yet, a shooting star. Jan. 2-3: Quadrantid Meteor Shower Kick off the New Year with a spectacular show as the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks between Jan. 2-3. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2025 The event begins before midnight when shooting stars are fired from high rises lining the harbor, timed at 15-minute intervals beginning at 11 p.m. The breadth and scope of the pyrotechnical feat is one of the city’s largest draws over the holidays. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for shooting star

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shooting star was in 1593

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Cite this Entry

“Shooting star.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shooting%20star. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

shooting star

noun
: a meteor appearing as a temporary streak of light in the night sky

More from Merriam-Webster on shooting star

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