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tentpole

noun

tent·​pole ˈtent-ˌpōl How to pronounce tentpole (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 The idea behind the act, which builds on the 2020 circular economy action plan, itself a tentpole of the European Green Deal, is to double the figure to 24 percent by 2030. Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 26 Nov. 2025 Remember, last year was off a combo of Disney’s Moana 2 and Universal’s Wicked, two heavily female-leaning tentpoles that didn’t cancel each other out. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2025 After the collapse of domestic box office in October, Aron needs to convince investors AMC can leverage a steadier supply of Hollywood tentpole releases to get film lovers back in the habit of going to the multiplex in pre-pandemic numbers. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tentpole

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tentpole was in 1987

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Cite this Entry

“Tentpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentpole. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

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