showstopper

noun

show·​stop·​per ˈshō-ˌstä-pər How to pronounce showstopper (audio)
1
: an act, song, or performer that wins applause so prolonged as to interrupt a performance
2
: something or someone exceptionally arresting or attractive
the gold crown was the showstopper of the exhibition
3
: one that stops or could stop the progress, operation, or functioning of something
showstopping adjective

Examples of showstopper in a Sentence

at the modeling agency everyone was a showstopper
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The other showstopper and must-see place is the Louvre Abu Dhabi which is located very close to the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island. Shivani Vora, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 Héritage by Kei Kobayashi is the showstopper, marking its first anniversary next January. Paul Jebara, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024 Today, dozens of festivals take place across Chile’s wine valleys between March and April, but the original event is still the showstopper, spanning four days and attracting more than 200,000 visitors. AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024 Leave out a display-worthy jewelry box Why not go with a real showstopper for your jewelry storage? Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 2 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for showstopper 

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of showstopper was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near showstopper

Cite this Entry

“Showstopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showstopper. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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