as in stars
the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show
a headliner on variety shows in the early days of TV
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Recent Examples of headliners
Eric Church was not one of those headliners.
—
Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026
The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival has revealed the names of two more headliners for 2026, a year that finds the long-running festival moving to a new location, Rawhide Western Town and Event Center, with new presenting sponsor Gila River Resorts & Casinos.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 19 Feb. 2026
All three are first-time headliners for the festival, so anticipation is high.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
The 2025 edition, which was Pollstar's Global 2025 Festival of the year, set the bar sky‑high with a record‑breaking crowd and powerhouse headliners like The Lumineers, Benson Boone, Alabama Shakes, Phish, Sturgill Simpson, and Noah Kahan.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
July highlights The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular arrives Thursday through Saturday, July 2-4, with the Beach Boys with John Stamos as headliners and conductor Thomas Wilkins and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, too.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In 2024, big-name headliners Busta Rhymes, Mya, Big Daddy Kane and funk rockers Morris Day and The Time took to the main stage.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The other two headliners in the series are pop star Bebe Rexha on March 28 and country star Dustin Lynch on March 29.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
As the dunk contest has moved from headliners to prospects, the risk of the competition has been coming to be defined solely as a dunker, as was the case for former Heat dunk champion Harold Miner, and even reigning three-time dunk champion Matt McClung; who largely has toiled in the G League.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2026
The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival has revealed the names of two more headliners for 2026, a year that finds the long-running festival moving to a new location, Rawhide Western Town and Event Center, with new presenting sponsor Gila River Resorts & Casinos.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 19 Feb. 2026
All three are first-time headliners for the festival, so anticipation is high.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
The 2025 edition, which was Pollstar's Global 2025 Festival of the year, set the bar sky‑high with a record‑breaking crowd and powerhouse headliners like The Lumineers, Benson Boone, Alabama Shakes, Phish, Sturgill Simpson, and Noah Kahan.
—Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Feb. 2026
July highlights The annual Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular arrives Thursday through Saturday, July 2-4, with the Beach Boys with John Stamos as headliners and conductor Thomas Wilkins and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, too.
—Peter Larsen, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In 2024, big-name headliners Busta Rhymes, Mya, Big Daddy Kane and funk rockers Morris Day and The Time took to the main stage.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The other two headliners in the series are pop star Bebe Rexha on March 28 and country star Dustin Lynch on March 29.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2026
As the dunk contest has moved from headliners to prospects, the risk of the competition has been coming to be defined solely as a dunker, as was the case for former Heat dunk champion Harold Miner, and even reigning three-time dunk champion Matt McClung; who largely has toiled in the G League.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headliners
Noun
-
It is anticipated that this is how the final stars, or the last sustained sources of light and energy, will arise in the Universe.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Buyers are really looking for a big, broad comedy with stars.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The four principals’ unmet personal and professional needs play out in unpredictable, funny and warm — as well as shattering — ways.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Historically, that burden fell to principals and their teams.—
Malana VanTyler,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headliners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headliners. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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