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showstopper

noun show·stop·per \ ˈshō-ˌstä-pər \
|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

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
—

showstopping

play \ˈshō-ˌstä-piŋ\ adjective

See showstopper defined for English-language learners

Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

  1. at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper

Recent Examples of showstopper from the Web

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

1916

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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SHOWSTOPPER Defined for English Language Learners

showstopper

noun

Definition of showstopper for English Language Learners

  • : an act, song, or performer that receives so much applause that the performance is interrupted

Learn More about showstopper

  1. See words that rhyme with showstopper

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