superman
- 01 A2 Elementary
a famous comic-book character who has incredible strength and can fly.
a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books, characterized by superhuman strength, flight, and invulnerability.
Simple“The child wore a red cape and pretended to be Superman.”
In context“The cultural impact of Superman extends far beyond comic books, influencing the modern archetype of the selfless hero in Western media.”
Synonymssuperheroman of steel - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a man who seems to have much more power, skill, or energy than a normal person.
a man of extraordinary or seemingly superhuman powers, intellect, or physical capability.
Simple“He worked twenty hours a day; his colleagues thought he was a superman.”
In context“The CEO was often portrayed as a corporate superman, capable of turning failing companies into market leaders overnight through sheer force of will.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
an idea from philosophy about a future type of human who is better and stronger than people today.
a translation of the Nietzschean 'Übermensch', representing a superior human being who creates their own values and transcends conventional morality.
Simple“The professor explained Nietzsche's theory of the superman during the lecture.”
In context“Nietzsche’s concept of the superman has been frequently misinterpreted and misappropriated by various political movements throughout the twentieth century.”
Synonymsovermanübermensch - 04 B1 Intermediate
an exercise where you lie on your stomach and lift your arms and legs off the floor.
a core-strengthening exercise performed by lying prone and simultaneously raising the arms, chest, and legs.
Simple“Hold the superman position for thirty seconds to strengthen your lower back.”
In context“The trainer recommended incorporating supermans into the routine to improve spinal stability and counteract the effects of sitting at a desk all day.”
Synonymsback extension
From super- + man. The character, created by Jerry Siegel (1914–1996) and Joe Shuster (1914–1992), first appeared in DC Comics’ Action Comics #1 dated June 1938. The ice-cream flavor is named in reference to the red, yellow and blue of the superhero's costume.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.