1
: British money
2
: sterling silver or articles of it
1
a
: of, relating to, or calculated in terms of British sterling
b
: payable in sterling
2
a
of silver
: having a fixed standard of purity usually defined legally as represented by an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper
b
: made of sterling silver
3
: conforming to the highest standard
sterling character
a sterling record of achievement
sterlingly
adverb
sterlingness
noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Examples of sterling in a Sentence
Noun
a drop in the value of sterling
Adjective
a sterling example of democracy at work
credited the win to the pitcher's sterling performance on the mound
Recent Examples on the Web
Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund (JPC) Distribution Rate: 8.0%
FPE might have a high-quality portfolio, but the Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities (JPC) is downright sterling.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The James Bond–themed Amazon Prime Video series follows nine pairs of contestants as they are embark on a global adventure, participating in a series of challenges for a shot at winning 1,000,000 pounds sterling each.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2023
In the third quarter, however, the Clippers experienced the Timberwolves’ sterling defense.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
The Gophers football program had great success with long snapper Brady Weeks over the last five seasons and look to keep that sterling streak going with Alan Soukup.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2024
Each lodge comes fitted with amenities that were previously hard to consistently come by: Guests can expect down pillows and 300-thread-count bed linen, sterling service, and inspired culinary offerings drawing on local produce.
—Chris Schalkx, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2024
Color options are also more limited (this set is only available in white, ivory, and sterling).
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2024
The company has creations made from 14K solid yellow gold, 14K solid white gold, sterling silver, 18K gold vermeil, and titanium, as well as enamel and ceramic pieces.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Hot on the heels of a sterling 2023 campaign that saw Scheffler retain the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year title, the American has – somehow – taken his game to another level this season.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
His pedigree was sterling: a Stanford psychology Ph.D., tenure track at Harvard, visiting professorship at Berkeley.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
This week’s batch of new music features Oliver Anthony’s full-length project, a tribute to the late Joe Diffie which features vocals from Diffie, Luke Combs and the late Toby Keith, as well as another viral hit from Tucker Wetmore and the sterling soul-country of Angel White.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
Whenever required, Hector Fort has also done a sterling job playing out of position as part of a group of academy graduates led by Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi which seems to be the future of the club.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The hitting will likely improve on a game-by-game basis while the pitching may not fully reprise its sterling 2023.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
The handmade necklace comes in 14-karat gold vermeil or sterling silver with a beautiful rainbow charm in the same material.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024
Along with the original black and white colorway, Mackenzie-Child's checkerboard pattern is available in sterling check, a combination of a silvery gray and royal blue.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024
Noun
Damaged gilds the lily, casting-wise, with John Hannah, delivering sterling supporting work as a chief suspect whose alibi would seem to clear him.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund (JPC) Distribution Rate: 8.0%
FPE might have a high-quality portfolio, but the Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities (JPC) is downright sterling.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The James Bond–themed Amazon Prime Video series follows nine pairs of contestants as they are embark on a global adventure, participating in a series of challenges for a shot at winning 1,000,000 pounds sterling each.
—Clark Collis, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2023
In the third quarter, however, the Clippers experienced the Timberwolves’ sterling defense.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024
The Gophers football program had great success with long snapper Brady Weeks over the last five seasons and look to keep that sterling streak going with Alan Soukup.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2024
Each lodge comes fitted with amenities that were previously hard to consistently come by: Guests can expect down pillows and 300-thread-count bed linen, sterling service, and inspired culinary offerings drawing on local produce.
—Chris Schalkx, Robb Report, 1 Feb. 2024
Color options are also more limited (this set is only available in white, ivory, and sterling).
—Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Jan. 2024
The company has creations made from 14K solid yellow gold, 14K solid white gold, sterling silver, 18K gold vermeil, and titanium, as well as enamel and ceramic pieces.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
Adjective
For now, however, leaders of the foundation lack the courage to honor Cheney for performing her sterling act of courage.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Hot on the heels of a sterling 2023 campaign that saw Scheffler retain the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year title, the American has – somehow – taken his game to another level this season.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
His pedigree was sterling: a Stanford psychology Ph.D., tenure track at Harvard, visiting professorship at Berkeley.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
This week’s batch of new music features Oliver Anthony’s full-length project, a tribute to the late Joe Diffie which features vocals from Diffie, Luke Combs and the late Toby Keith, as well as another viral hit from Tucker Wetmore and the sterling soul-country of Angel White.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
Whenever required, Hector Fort has also done a sterling job playing out of position as part of a group of academy graduates led by Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi which seems to be the future of the club.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The hitting will likely improve on a game-by-game basis while the pitching may not fully reprise its sterling 2023.
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
The handmade necklace comes in 14-karat gold vermeil or sterling silver with a beautiful rainbow charm in the same material.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 27 Mar. 2024
Along with the original black and white colorway, Mackenzie-Child's checkerboard pattern is available in sterling check, a combination of a silvery gray and royal blue.
—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sterling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to sterling
Dictionary Entries Near sterling
Cite this Entry
“Sterling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sterling. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sterling
1 of 2 noun
ster·ling
ˈstər-liŋ 
1
: British money
2
: sterling silver or articles of it
sterling
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to British sterling
2
: being or made of an alloy of 925 parts of silver with 75 parts of copper
sterling silver
3
Etymology
Noun
so called from the phrase "a pound sterling," meaning the British pound as a monetary unit, but originally "a pound (by weight) of sterlings," from Middle English sterling "silver penny"
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