English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

showstopper

Quiz me More like this

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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like showstopper.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice

Word forms

Plural
showstoppers
Test yourself on “showstopper” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

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.

People also searched