Definition of showstopper
1 : an act, song, or performer that wins applause so prolonged as to interrupt a performance
2 : something or someone exceptionally arresting or attractive the gold crown was the showstopper of the exhibition
3 : one that stops or could stop the progress, operation, or functioning of something
From the M-W Editors
Examples of showstopper in a Sentence
at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper
Recent Examples of showstopper from the Web
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Several scenes are minor-key dramatic showstoppers, not least one at a food bank involving Squires.
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White’s DeLorean, which only has 15,000 miles on the odometer, is a showstopper.
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If her showstopper of a gown would be dramatic for another actress, Ross recalled her pedigree.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'showstopper'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of showstopper
1926
SHOWSTOPPER Defined for English Language Learners
showstopper
playDefinition of showstopper for English Language Learners
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: an act, song, or performer that receives so much applause that the performance is interrupted
Learn More about showstopper
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