# super

/ˈsupɝ/ (US) · /sˈuːpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/super
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. excellent

adjective · CEFR A2 · Informal

very good or wonderful.

For teachers: of excellent quality; exceptionally good or pleasing.

- We had a super time at the beach yesterday.
- The team did a super job on the presentation, exceeding all the client's expectations for the first quarter.

### 2. very

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely'.

For teachers: used as an intensifier to mean 'very' or 'extremely'; functions similarly to the prefix 'super-'.

- I am super excited about the concert tonight.
- The new software is super easy to use, even for employees who have no prior technical training.

### 3. building manager

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

the person in charge of looking after an apartment building.

For teachers: a clipping of 'superintendent'; the person responsible for the maintenance and management of a residential building.

- I called the super because the heater in my apartment stopped working.
- The building super was quick to respond when the main water pipe burst in the basement late on Tuesday night.

### 4. retirement fund

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Dialect

money saved for when you stop working.

For teachers: a clipping of 'superannuation'; a pension or retirement fund system.

- He decided to put more money into his super to prepare for retirement.
- Recent changes to the law mean that employers must contribute a higher percentage of wages into their employees' super accounts.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to Australia and New Zealand; learners in other regions should use 'pension' or '401k'.

### 5. extra actor

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an actor who has a very small part and no lines in a play or film.

For teachers: a clipping of 'supernumerary'; an actor who appears on stage or screen but has no speaking role.

- She worked as a super in the opera to see what it was like backstage.
- The production required dozens of supers to fill the stage during the elaborate coronation scene in the second act.

## Examples

- I called the super because the heater stopped working.
- The super lives in the basement apartment and handles all the trash collection and minor plumbing issues for the tenants.
- While the building's owner rarely visits the property, the super maintains a constant presence, ensuring that the aging infrastructure remains functional for the diverse group of residents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.