Word
blockbuster
Phoneticsblock·buster
US/ˈbɫɑkˌbəstɝ/
UK/blˈɒkbʌstɐ/
Definitions
01successful film or book
n. a film or book that is extremely popular and makes a lot of money.
n. a creative work, especially a film or novel, that achieves exceptional commercial success and widespread popularity.
“The new superhero movie is expected to be a summer blockbuster.”
“Studios often rely on a single summer blockbuster to offset the financial risks of their smaller, more experimental projects.”
Informal
Teaching tip
While originally used for films, it is now commonly applied to high-selling books and major video game releases.
Synonyms
02large-scale production
n. a production made with a very large budget and lots of advertising.
n. a production, typically in entertainment, conceived on an epic scale with a high budget and extensive marketing.
“The museum is hosting a blockbuster exhibition of ancient gold.”
“The gallery's blockbuster retrospective required years of international negotiation to secure the necessary loans from private collectors.”
Informal
Teaching tip
In recent years, this has moved beyond cinema to describe major museum exhibitions or high-profile events.
Synonyms
03powerful bomb
n. a very large bomb used to destroy a whole street or area.
n. a high-explosive aerial bomb capable of devastating a large urban area, such as a city block.
“The museum displayed the casing of a massive blockbuster from the war.”
“During the strategic bombing campaigns, the deployment of blockbusters was intended to maximize structural damage across dense industrial zones.”
Technical · Archaic
Teaching tip
This is the original military origin of the word; students will mostly encounter it in historical contexts.
Real-World Examples
“In their 2021 blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan described the freedom to make her own choices as "liberating".” “The earliest surviving fragments of the epic poem—the subject of Christopher Nolan's latest Hollywood blockbuster—date back more than 2,000 years.” “But The Meg, a summer sharkfest blockbuster set to premiere on August 10, might have you believe otherwise.” “The year prior, a blockbuster Simon and Garfunkel tour ended in bickering.” Etymology
From block + buster, referring originally to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/blockbuster