headliner
/ˈhɛd.laɪ.nər/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
The main performer, speaker, or act in a show, concert, or event. It is the person or act people come mainly to see.
- The headliner starts at 9 p.m.
- She was the headliner at the festival.
- The headliner drew the biggest crowd.
- 2.
A person or thing that gets the most attention in a group, list, or news story. It is often the most important item in the set.
- The new policy was the headliner in today's meeting.
- The match was the headliner on the sports page.
- That product is the headliner of the sale.
Adinary Nuance
A headliner is not just famous; it is the main attraction. Use headliner for the top performer in a show, while star is broader and can mean any famous person. It is more specific than main act, which sounds more neutral and event-focused. In news or business, it can also mean the item that gets the most attention.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- người biểu diễn chính
- Spanish
- atracción principal
- Chinese
- 压轴
- Japanese
- 目玉
- Korean
- 주요 출연자
Etymology
Headliner comes from headline, first used in the 1800s for a main newspaper title. The word later came to mean the main attraction in entertainment.
Common phrases
the headliner actthe headliner of the nighttop headlinerheadliner at the festival
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is headliner formal or informal?
- It is neutral and common in entertainment writing. It can also be used in news or business contexts.
- What is the difference between headliner and star?
- A star is a famous person in general. A headliner is the main attraction in a show or event.
- Can I use headliner for news stories?
- Yes, if you mean the main item that gets the most attention. That use is less common than the entertainment meaning.
- Is headliner a common word in English?
- Yes, especially in entertainment, event listings, and some news writing.