star turn

noun

1

a

: a performance, role, or appearance (as in a movie or television show) that is done by a star or well-known personality

… she commands every scene. Hers is a true, potent star turn.

—Tom Gliatto

Slater … delivers a surprisingly effective performance in this otherwise muddled thriller made before his attention-grabbing star turn in Heathers.

—Ed Hulse

… she would surely dump the bother of serving as Alaska's besieged governor for a lucrative star turn on Fox News.

—Frank Rich

b

: an outstanding performance or prominent role in or contribution to something

The fresh, soft, white Italian cheese called mascarpone is most famous for its star turn in tiramisu …

—Jane Daniels Lear

The football gods would return the favor early in the fourth quarter on a strangely similar play that bounced Indy's way, with center Jeff Saturday getting the star turn.

—Michael Silver

2

chiefly British : the featured skit or number in a theatrical production

also : the most outstanding or prominent person or thing in a group

The star turn of a recent lunch in the plant-filled conservatory was a Goan curry—chunks of succulent chicken breast in a sauce the color of pesto, made with green chilies and coriander.

—R. W. Apple, Jr.

Examples of star turn in a Sentence

She was nominated for an Oscar for her star turn as a single mother raising three children alone.

She was the star turn in yesterday's game.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film is Certified Fresh at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Dominic Sessa receiving raves for his star turn as the young Bourdain. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2026

Bertinelli, now 66, estimated the photoshoot’s year to be 1979, four years into her star turn as wisecracking teen Barbara Cooper on One Day at a Time. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Aug. 2026

The movie—which comes out August 7th—is a star turn for Dominic Sessa, who plays the young Tony with adenoidal swagger. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026

The monarch’s star turn has changed the places along the more northerly parts of its route as well. — Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for star turn

• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• heartburn
• interne
• nocturne
• return
• sunburn
• unworn