English Reference
noun · verb

poster

n. · v.
US /ˈpoʊstɝ/ UK /pˈəʊstɐ/ poster UK spelling posters

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    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.

    Simple

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

    In context

    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.

    lurker
  4. 04 C1 Advanced SlangAmerican English Sport

    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.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

    Teacher's tip

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

  5. 05 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.

    Simple

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

    In context

    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.


Etymology 1

From post + -er.

Etymology 2

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

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

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated