English Reference

Word

poster

US/ˈpoʊstɝ/

UK/pˈəʊstɐ/

Definitions

01wall decoration

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a large printed picture of a famous person or a place that you put on a wall for decoration.

n. a large printed image, often of a celebrity or artistic subject, intended for display on a vertical surface.

“He had a large poster of his favourite band on his bedroom wall.”

“The teenager's room was plastered with vintage movie posters, reflecting a sophisticated interest in mid-century cinema.”

Synonyms

02advertisement

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a large notice or sign used to advertise an event or a product in a public place.

n. a placard or bill posted in a public place to advertise a product, service, or upcoming event.

“I saw a poster for the local food festival at the bus stop.”

“The campaign relied heavily on eye-catching posters displayed in high-traffic underground stations to build brand awareness before the product launch.”

03internet user

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing Informal

n. someone who shares a message, photo, or comment on a website or social media.

n. an individual who submits content, such as messages or media, to an online forum, social network, or comment section.

“The original poster asked for advice on how to fix a broken laptop.”

“Moderators often have to intervene when a frequent poster violates the community guidelines by sharing inflammatory content.”

Usage

Often used in the initialism 'OP' to refer to the 'original poster' of a thread.

Synonyms

Antonyms

lurker

04basketball dunk

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports Slang · American English

n. a powerful jump and score in basketball over a player from the other team.

n. a forceful dunk performed over a defending player, often resulting in a visually impressive play.

“The crowd went wild after his incredible poster in the final minute.”

“The rookie's aggressive poster over the veteran centre became the most-watched highlight of the season.”

Teaching tip

This sense is highly specific to basketball culture and is rarely used in other contexts.

Synonyms

05to cover with signs

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to put many posters up on a wall or in an area.

v. to decorate or cover a surface or area with posters.

“They decided to poster the entire neighbourhood to find their lost cat.”

“Activists spent the night postering the city centre with slogans demanding immediate environmental reform.”

Usage

This verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the surface or area being covered.

Synonyms

Etymology

From post + -er.

From post + -er, from post (“travel, dispatch”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Idioms

Domain

Internet

This entry

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.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL 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: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
Frequency
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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English Reference