supernova
noun
Did you know?
A nova, despite its name, isn't actually a "new" star, but rather one that wasn't noticed until it exploded, when it may increase in brightness by a million times before returning to its previous state a few days later. A supernova is far larger; a star in its supernova state may emit a billion times as much light as previously. After a few weeks it begins to dim, until it eventually ceases to exist; it's often replaced by a black hole. (Though remains that were shot out into space may survive; those of a great supernova seen in A.D. 1054 are now known as the Crab Nebula.) All this may serve as a warning to those human stars whose fame explodes too rapidly; supernovas of this kind have sometimes vanished by the following year.
Examples of supernova in a Sentence
Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
As a result, the light from the initial supernova that caused the gamma-ray burst was expected to become brightest a few months after the burst was sighted.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 9 Dec. 2025
Thanks to the fast-acting team, the scientific community now has the first image of a supernova at such an early stage.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025
Together, these guest stars form a supernova of talent designed to overcome such trivial challenges as coherence through sheer brute force.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for supernova
Cite this Entry
“Supernova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supernova. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
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supernova
noun
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