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
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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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The flowers of the hibiscus are the real showstopper.
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A crispy cookie crust forms the base for this showstopper fruit dessert.
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Standout elements like guest-star Angela Bassett, love interest Alessandra Mastronardi, and the sumptuous Italian countryside all help elevate Ansari’s winning star turn to a 2017 showstopper.
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There was a mini showstopper at the 2017 BET Awards Sunday night.
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Any beef lover should not hesitate to order Beef Shoulder Bourguignon, a showstopper of a meal.
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Married to Tracy for nearly 30 years, Erik regularly creates spicy showstoppers in his Lenexa kitchen.
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While their menu of high-end takes on classic comfort food is on point, their desserts are the real showstoppers.
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Look for showstoppers from Josh Groban, Ben Platt and Patti LuPone.
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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