super

1 of 4

adjective

su·​per ˈsü-pər 

1

a

: of high grade or quality

b

—used as a generalized term of approval

a super cook

2

: very large or powerful

a super atomic bomb

3

: exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree

super secrecy

super

2 of 4

noun

1

[by shortening]

a

: supernumerary

especially : a supernumerary actor

b

: superintendent, supervisor

especially : the superintendent of an apartment building

2

[short for obsolete superhive] : a removable upper story of a beehive

3

[super entry 1] : a superfine grade or extra large size

4

[origin unknown] : a thin loosely woven open-meshed starched cotton fabric used especially for reinforcing books

super

3 of 4

adverb

1

: very, extremely

a super fast car

2

: to an excessive degree

super-

4 of 4

prefix

1

a(1)

: over and above : higher in quantity, quality, or degree than : more than

superhuman

(2)

: in addition : extra

supertax

b(1)

: exceeding or so as to exceed a norm

superheat

(2)

: in or to an extreme or excessive degree or intensity

supersubtle

c

: surpassing all or most others of its kind

superhighway

2

a

: situated or placed above, on, or at the top of

superlunary

specifically : situated on the dorsal side of

b

: next above or higher

supertonic

3

: having the (specified) ingredient present in a large or unusually large proportion

superphosphate

4

: constituting a more inclusive category than that specified

superfamily

5

: superior in status, title, or position

superpower

Synonyms

Adjective

• astronomical
• astronomic
• Brobdingnagian
• bumper
• colossal
• cosmic
• cosmical
• cyclopean
• elephantine
• enormous
• galactic
• gargantuan
• giant
• gigantesque
• gigantic
• grand
• herculean
• heroic
• heroical
• Himalayan
• huge
• humongous
• humungous
• immense
• jumbo
• king-size
• king-sized
• leviathan
• mammoth
• massive
• mega
• mighty
• monster
• monstrous
• monumental
• mountainous
• oceanic
• pharaonic
• planetary
• prodigious
• super-duper
• supersize
• supersized
• titanic
• tremendous
• vast
• vasty
• walloping
• whacking
• whopping

Adverb

• achingly
• almighty
• archly
• awful
• awfully
• badly
• beastly
• blisteringly
• bone
• colossally
• corking
• cracking
• damn
• damned
• dang
• deadly
• desperately
• eminently
• enormously
• especially
• ever
• exceedingly
• exceeding
• extra
• extremely
• fabulously
• fantastically
• far
• fiercely
• filthy
• frightfully
• full
• greatly
• heavily
• highly
• hugely
• immensely
• incredibly
• intensely
• jolly
• majorly
• mightily
• mighty
• monstrous [chiefly dialect]
• mortally
• most
• much
• particularly
• passing
• rattling
• real
• really
• right
• roaring
• roaringly
• seriously
• severely
• so
• sore
• sorely
• spanking
• specially
• stinking
• such
• supremely
• surpassingly
• terribly
• that
• thumping
• too
• unco
• uncommonly
• vastly
• very
• vitally
• way
• whacking
• wicked
• wildly

Examples of super in a Sentence

Adjective

We had a super time.

“Yes, I'd love to come.” “Super! I'll see you later.”

Adverb

my computer is super slow this morning

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Spectacular goals, incredible football, last minute winners, super subs. —The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Redstone's third and fourth technologies are enhanced super resolution and frame generation, respectively. —Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 21 May 2025

Noun

The six-story elevator building from 1948 was also in the Jackson Heights Historic District and had a laundry room, bike storage, a shared garden and a live-in super. —Joyce Cohen, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Cigarette smoke, dames to kill for, crooked cops — latex super suit? —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 May 2025

Adverb

Adela Foldable Wide Brim Straw Hat This hat is playful, bold, and somehow still super packable. —Vanessa L. Powell, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025

Reviews on the Estes website are super positive with an average rating of 4.38 out of five. —Ian Stokes, Space.com, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

super-

Adverb

super-

Prefix

Latin, over, above, in addition, from super over, above, on top of — more at over

First Known Use

Adjective

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1946, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing super

• super-duper
• super G
• super glue
• super-minister
• super-person
• super-romantic
• super-spreader
• super-spreading

Rhymes for super

• grouper
• hooper
• keuper
• looper
• stupor
• trooper
• paratrooper

Kids Definition

super

1 of 4 adjective

su·​per ˈsü-pər 

1

—used as an overall term of approval

a super cook

2

: very large or powerful

a super atomic bomb

3

: showing the characteristics of its type to an extreme degree

super secrecy

super

2 of 4 noun

1

: an actor not listed with the regular cast

2

: superintendent, supervisor

super

3 of 4 adverb

1

: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely

a super fast car

2

: to a degree exceeding the usual or normal

super critical

super-

4 of 4 prefix

1

a

: over and above : higher in quantity, quality, or degree than : more than

superfine

superhuman

b

: exceeding or so as to exceed what is usual or normal

supercool

c

: bigger, better, or more important than others of the same kind

superhighway

superstar

2

a

: situated or placed above, on, or at the top of

superimpose

b

: next above or higher

supertonic

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin super "over, above"