Word
headliner
Phoneticshead·lin·er, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɛdˌɫaɪnɝ/
UK/hˈɛdlaɪnɐ/
Music
Definition
n. the most famous or popular performer at a concert or event. You usually see their name at the top of the poster.
n. the principal performer or attraction at a concert, festival, or event. Often used in the plural to refer to the most prominent acts on a bill.
Examples
“The band is the headliner for the summer festival.”
“Despite the smaller acts being excellent, the crowd was waiting for the headliner to take the stage.”
“The festival's lineup features several international headliners, ensuring that the final night of the event will be the most attended of the week.”
Examples
simple
“The band is the headliner for the summer festival.”
contextual
“Despite the smaller acts being excellent, the crowd was waiting for the headliner to take the stage.”
complex
“The festival's lineup features several international headliners, ensuring that the final night of the event will be the most attended of the week.”
Real-World Examples
“The rock energy continued on the main stage as Fontaines DC followed Charli, with both acts billed as headliners for the opening night of Reading.” “Eavis said Glastonbury had booked all its headliners for June 2027.” Etymology
From headline (verb) + -er.
From head + liner.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/headliner