tentpole
noun
tent·pole
ˈtent-ˌpōl 
: a big-budget movie whose earnings are expected to compensate the studio for its less profitable movies
Examples of tentpole in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The successful sitcom would become a tentpole for the kids' channel, running for four seasons.
—
Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Disney’s record-smashing Thanksgiving tentpole Zootopia 2 is looking at a second-place finish with $45 million from 4,000 sites, bringing its domestic total to north of $222 million through Sunday.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 6 Dec. 2025
With shrinking numbers of tentpole companies, graduates would need stylistic versatility, with training across a breadth of disciplines; new composition requirements helped prepare dancers to work with choreographers who increasingly build off in-studio improvisations.
—Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2025
While concerts and matches remain essential, YouTube’s upcoming key cultural tentpoles also bring an innovative, broader and exciting fan experience, delivering extraordinary value on the platform.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentpole
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Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
Disney’s record-smashing Thanksgiving tentpole Zootopia 2 is looking at a second-place finish with $45 million from 4,000 sites, bringing its domestic total to north of $222 million through Sunday.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 6 Dec. 2025
With shrinking numbers of tentpole companies, graduates would need stylistic versatility, with training across a breadth of disciplines; new composition requirements helped prepare dancers to work with choreographers who increasingly build off in-studio improvisations.
—Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 2 Dec. 2025
While concerts and matches remain essential, YouTube’s upcoming key cultural tentpoles also bring an innovative, broader and exciting fan experience, delivering extraordinary value on the platform.
—Mark Sutherland, Variety, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tentpole
Cite this Entry
“Tentpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentpole. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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