superstar

noun

su·​per·​star ˈsü-pər-ˌstär How to pronounce superstar (audio)
1
: a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary
But last year, when people started posting hits from superstars like Madonna and Puff Daddy on the Web, where anyone could download them for free, the record companies went ballistic.N'Gai Croal et al.
The notion that superstars are protected by NBA refs is neither a new nor a particularly farfetched one.Jack McCallum
2
: one that is very prominent or is a prime attraction
From Wolfgang Puck to Alice Waters, America's leading chefs have become superstars.Marian Burros
With that the judge sentenced the one time superstar investor to three years in prison for his role in the largest insider-trading scandal in history.Time Magazine
Chardonnay is the superstar among white-wine grapes …Barbara Ensrud
superstardom noun

Examples of superstar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Lakers are walking a tightrope where one errant smack upon their lanky superstar can send the entire franchise tumbling. Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 The Mexican superstar’s NYC show also highlighted her illustrious 30-year career, filled with nostalgia and celebration. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2024 The 24-year-old superstar — fresh off his historic first Grammy win for Best Música Mexicana Album — topped a packed bill on Wednesday. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 But there’s another superstar who knows how to get her crowd dressed to the nines: Madonna. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 There are many things to admire about the Dodgers’ do-it-all superstar, but one quality has long enamored Christenson, who has been in the opposite dugout many times as the A’s and later Padres bench coach under Melvin. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 Kennedy, an environmental activist turned anti-vaccine superstar, is already running an extremely online campaign; as WIRED noted recently, the candidate is omnipresent on Instagram, podcasts, and Substack and has used influencers as proxies who will deliver his message to his niche bases. Anna Merlan, WIRED, 14 Mar. 2024 Colt has been a stunt double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), an international superstar with a lethal combo of arrogance and insecurity, for six years. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Belichick is on the cover of Time magazine, and Brady’s an international superstar. Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superstar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of superstar was in 1914

Dictionary Entries Near superstar

Cite this Entry

“Superstar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstar. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

superstar

noun
su·​per·​star ˈsü-pər-ˌstär How to pronounce superstar (audio)
: a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary
superstardom noun

More from Merriam-Webster on superstar

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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