: one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity
Examples of has-been in a Sentence
now a has-been, the actor's been reduced to appearing on a third-rate reality show
Recent Examples on the Web
Roy isn’t as indelible a character as Crash Davis — likewise, Tin Cup isn’t as memorable as Bull Durham — but playing a stubborn has-been who used to be a promising golfer allowed Costner to flex his ordinary-man muscles.
—
Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024
Paul Tassi Time for the week’s first mini which involved a somewhat has-been comedian, cats and no real overarching theme this time around.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Netflix 17 of 21 The Responder (2022–present) Martin Freeman stars in this police drama as Chris Carson, a has-been urgent response officer tasked with working endless night shifts in gritty London opposite his less experienced but still game partner (Adelayo Adedayo).
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2024
Featuring Steph Curry, playing himself, as the superstar and Adam Pally, not playing himself, as the premature has-been, Mr. Throwback has some of the same energy and relatable virtues, stretched a little thin over six half-hour episodes.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2024
Many even argued that Tokyo could use the moment to emerge from its torpor and keep the world's then second-largest economy from becoming a global has-been.
—Takashi Yokota, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2011
The biggest takeaway was the discrepancy in talent from USA Basketball’s five-on-five roster, which is headlined by future basketball Hall of Famers LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, to Team USA’s obscure 3×3 roster led by BYU has-been Jimmer Fredette.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 31 July 2024
In Prime Video’s adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Goggins portrays Cooper Howard, a Hollywood Western has-been making ends meet as the lasso-spinning entertainment at kids’ parties.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
Essentially, when Wags (David Costabile) begins chatting with some old pals and tries to pitch them on bringing some money to Michael Prince Capital, he's treated like a has-been, like a relic of the past.
—Kyle Fowle, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2023
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.
Will Leitch, Vulture, 1 July 2024
Paul Tassi Time for the week’s first mini which involved a somewhat has-been comedian, cats and no real overarching theme this time around.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
Netflix 17 of 21 The Responder (2022–present) Martin Freeman stars in this police drama as Chris Carson, a has-been urgent response officer tasked with working endless night shifts in gritty London opposite his less experienced but still game partner (Adelayo Adedayo).
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2024
Featuring Steph Curry, playing himself, as the superstar and Adam Pally, not playing himself, as the premature has-been, Mr. Throwback has some of the same energy and relatable virtues, stretched a little thin over six half-hour episodes.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2024
Many even argued that Tokyo could use the moment to emerge from its torpor and keep the world's then second-largest economy from becoming a global has-been.
—Takashi Yokota, Foreign Affairs, 19 Sep. 2011
The biggest takeaway was the discrepancy in talent from USA Basketball’s five-on-five roster, which is headlined by future basketball Hall of Famers LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, to Team USA’s obscure 3×3 roster led by BYU has-been Jimmer Fredette.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 31 July 2024
In Prime Video’s adaptation of the popular video game franchise, Goggins portrays Cooper Howard, a Hollywood Western has-been making ends meet as the lasso-spinning entertainment at kids’ parties.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
Essentially, when Wags (David Costabile) begins chatting with some old pals and tries to pitch them on bringing some money to Michael Prince Capital, he's treated like a has-been, like a relic of the past.
—Kyle Fowle, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near has-been
Cite this Entry
“Has-been.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/has-been. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share