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noun

showstopper

Showstopper (noun) means a moment in a performance so impressive that it draws a huge audience reaction. Example: “Her final solo was the showstopper everyone talked about after the concert.”

noun
1
A moment in a performance so impressive that it draws a huge audience reaction.
"Her final solo was the showstopper everyone talked about after the concert."
2
A problem serious enough to halt progress on something, especially a critical software bug.
"The team delayed the release after finding a showstopper bug in the checkout flow."
"A single missing permit turned into a showstopper for the whole project."

How to use showstopper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a spectacular highlight of a performance, or a problem serious enough to stop everything.

Common pairings
showstopper bug showstopper performance

Word forms

showstoppers plural

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Her final solo was the _____ everyone talked about after the concert.

Etymology

From show + stopper.

stopper show-stopper

Related words

Rhymes for showstopper

See all rhymes for showstopper →

Frequently asked questions

What does “showstopper” mean?

The word “showstopper” means a moment in a performance so impressive that it draws a huge audience reaction. In plain terms, either a spectacular highlight of a performance, or a problem serious enough to stop everything.

How do you use “showstopper” in a sentence?

Here is “showstopper” used in a sentence: “Her final solo was the showstopper everyone talked about after the concert.”

What part of speech is “showstopper”?

“Showstopper” is a noun.

How many meanings does “showstopper” have?

“Showstopper” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a moment in a performance so impressive that it draws a huge audience reaction.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial