English Reference
noun

superstar

n.
US /ˌsupɝˈstɑɹ/ UK /sˈuːpəstˌɑː/ su·per·star UK spelling superstars

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    a person who is very famous, especially a singer, actor, or athlete.

    a high-level celebrity who has achieved immense fame and public recognition.

    Simple

    The young singer became a global superstar after her first album sold millions of copies.

    In context

    The marketing campaign relied heavily on the superstar's endorsement to ensure the product appealed to a younger demographic.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    an employee who does much better work than everyone else.

    an exceptionally productive or talented employee who consistently outperforms their peers.

    Simple

    She is the superstar of the sales department and always hits her targets early.

    In context

    The firm struggles to retain its corporate superstars, as competing agencies frequently offer them significantly higher salaries and better benefits.

    high flyertop performer
    underperformer
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency TechnicalArchaic Science

    a very large and bright star in space.

    a giant or supergiant star of immense luminosity and mass.

    Simple

    The telescope captured a clear image of a distant superstar at the edge of the galaxy.

    In context

    Early astronomical texts occasionally used the term superstar to describe what modern astrophysicists now classify more precisely as a blue hypergiant.

    supergianthypergiant
    dwarf star

From super- + star.

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

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated