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

This time of year, the annual month-long Perseid Meteor Shower is peaking, so once the sun does finally set, gaze upward again to see a flurry of shooting stars. —Maya Silver, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025

Dozens of shooting stars will dash across the California night sky as a radiant meteor show reaches its peak. —Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025

The Orionid meteor shower peak begins tonight, welcoming a spectacular natural light show that could see a flurry of shooting stars spawned by Halley's Comet brighten the dark, moonless sky. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025

The Orionid meteor shower will soon peak, and conditions could allow for a night full of shooting stars. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shooting star

• abattoir
• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar

Kids Definition

shooting star

noun

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