super
SOO-puh
Super (adj) means Excellent; wonderful; better than average. Example: “Our guide was super and knew every story about the castle.”
adj
1
Excellent; wonderful; better than average.
"Our guide was super and knew every story about the castle."
"That was a super meal, thank you."
"We had a super time at the festival."
adv
1
Very; extremely.
"The film was super funny and we laughed all evening."
"My brother is super excited about his new bike."
"She's super busy this week."
noun
1
Short for superintendent, the person who maintains an apartment building.
"Call the super if the heating breaks again."
"The super fixed the leaking pipe in our flat this morning."
"Our building's super lives in the basement and knows every tenant."
How to use super
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA general word for "great", an intensifier meaning "very", or a shortened job title.
When to use it
Using "super" as an intensifier ("super busy", "super fun") is casual, conversational English.
Common pairings
super fun
super busy
building super
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like super.
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
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our guide was _____ and knew every story about the castle.
Etymology
From Latin super, meaning "above" — the same root behind words like superior and superb.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for super
See all rhymes for super →Frequently asked questions
What does “super” mean?
The word “super” means excellent; wonderful; better than average. In plain terms, a general word for "great", an intensifier meaning "very", or a shortened job title.
How do you pronounce “super”?
“Super” is pronounced SOO-puh (/ˈsupɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “super” in a sentence?
Here is “super” used in a sentence: “That was a super meal, thank you.”
What part of speech is “super”?
Depending on how it is used, “super” can be an adjective, an adverb and a noun.
Where does the word “super” come from?
The word “super” comes from Latin. From Latin super, meaning "above" — the same root behind words like superior and superb.
Is “super” a common word?
“Super” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “super” have?
“Super” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: excellent; wonderful; better than average.
Is 'super' a formal or informal word?
Super is informal and conversational. It works well in speech, texts and casual writing to mean excellent or wonderful, but in formal reports or business documents, plainer choices like excellent, outstanding or first-rate read better. It also carries a cheerful, slightly old-fashioned tone that can sound enthusiastic or breezy.
What is the difference between super and great?
Both mean better than average, and they often swap freely. Great is the more neutral, all-purpose choice suitable for most contexts. Super sounds more informal, upbeat and enthusiastic, and it doubles as an intensifier — 'super easy,' 'super happy' — where great cannot. In short, super is chirpier and more casual.
What is an example of 'super' used in a sentence?
As an adjective meaning excellent: 'We had a super time at the party,' 'She's a super person to work with,' or 'That was a super idea.' In each, super simply signals that something is wonderful or better than average, with a warm, enthusiastic feel.
What is the opposite of super?
As a word for excellent, its opposites are terrible, awful, dreadful and poor. If super means better than average, then ordinary, average or mediocre are gentler antonyms. The right choice depends on how negative you want to be — from mildly unremarkable to genuinely bad.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include super:
