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 museum just acquired the piece and wasted little time putting the multi-media showstopper — lights, projections, sound — before the public. Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 14 July 2025 Celebs have been busting out horological showstoppers all tournament, in fact. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 14 July 2025 An open-concept kitchen and a cozy lounge with a stocked bar can be found on the main floor, but for a showstopper, head up a hidden back staircase to the hotel’s most luxurious suite. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 13 July 2025 Still, the showstopper here is the undulating Landscape Sofa by Nina Edwards Anker for Dune, custom upholstered in ultrasuede. Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 7 July 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

Cite this Entry

“Showstopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/showstopper. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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