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
This year’s headliners include Lorde, The Smashing Pumpkins, Olivia Dean and Tate McRae.
—
Crystal Tate, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Twenty One Pilots and Iggy Pop will headline Friday night, Tool and Morrissey are among the headliners on Saturday, and Alanis Morissette will headline on Sunday.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 18 June 2026
The 41-year-old pop star brought the energy to SoFi Stadium on Friday, June 12, as one of the ceremony's headliners, alongside other musical performances from Anitta, Tyla, BLACKPINK's Lisa and more.
—Klaritza Rico, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Given this is one of the lower profile group stage matches taking place in Miami, with the headliners being Colombia-Portugal and Brazil-Scotland, an attendance of over 62,000 is somewhat impressive and spares FIFA’s blushes in the context of how many empty seats there were in the first half.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 June 2026
All 65 pieces were made at Piaget’s Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire, and several of the headliners, Blue Illusions among them, are one-of-a-kind.
—Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Fights are then slotted roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, the same staggered build these DAZN boxing cards tend to follow, so the headliners are still hours away when the broadcast opens.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
The organization’s annual benefit concert, Concert for Cures, recently surpassed $28 million raised for cancer research with A-list headliners including Elton John, Pink, Ed Sheeran and Alicia Keys.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
Also for the first time, the final, which will be held at MetLife Stadium field in New Jersey (known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament), will feature a Super Bowl-like halftime show with headliners Shakira, Madonna and BTS.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 June 2026
Crystal Tate, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Twenty One Pilots and Iggy Pop will headline Friday night, Tool and Morrissey are among the headliners on Saturday, and Alanis Morissette will headline on Sunday.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 18 June 2026
The 41-year-old pop star brought the energy to SoFi Stadium on Friday, June 12, as one of the ceremony's headliners, alongside other musical performances from Anitta, Tyla, BLACKPINK's Lisa and more.
—Klaritza Rico, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
Given this is one of the lower profile group stage matches taking place in Miami, with the headliners being Colombia-Portugal and Brazil-Scotland, an attendance of over 62,000 is somewhat impressive and spares FIFA’s blushes in the context of how many empty seats there were in the first half.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 June 2026
All 65 pieces were made at Piaget’s Ateliers de l’Extraordinaire, and several of the headliners, Blue Illusions among them, are one-of-a-kind.
—Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 16 June 2026
Fights are then slotted roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, the same staggered build these DAZN boxing cards tend to follow, so the headliners are still hours away when the broadcast opens.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
The organization’s annual benefit concert, Concert for Cures, recently surpassed $28 million raised for cancer research with A-list headliners including Elton John, Pink, Ed Sheeran and Alicia Keys.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2026
Also for the first time, the final, which will be held at MetLife Stadium field in New Jersey (known as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament), will feature a Super Bowl-like halftime show with headliners Shakira, Madonna and BTS.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headliners
Noun
-
Keith hailed from Tennessee and worked with music’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé and Drake.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
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Angel Reese with Reebok, Breanna Stewart with Puma, Sabrina Ionescu with Nike and A’ja Wilson with Nike are the other active WNBA stars with signature sneakers.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
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In 2023, a Gallup Poll cited in an analysis of the California legislation found that 77% of principals nationwide reported taking recess away as punishment.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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Other recommendations made by TASB incldude a $5,000 increase for campus principals and market adjustments totaling $47,324 for campus technicians on the technology pay grade.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headliners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headliners. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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