bestselling

IPA/ˌbestˈselɪŋ/
KK[bˈɛstsˈɛlɪŋ]IPA/ˌbestˈselɪŋ/

bestselling — adjective

  • bestsellingpositive
  • more bestsellingcomparative
  • most bestsellingsuperlative

1. very popular and bought in huge numbers by many people — used especially about b

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

very popular and bought in huge numbers by many people — used especially about books, games, or other products that sell far more copies than most others.

Example

Élise's first novel became a bestselling book within weeks of its release.

attributive before 'book'

The store sold thousands of copies of the bestselling video game on launch day.

Common collocations
  • bestselling book
  • bestselling author
  • bestselling novel
  • bestselling product
  • bestselling series
  • bestselling game
  • bestselling cookbook
Synonyms
  • top-selling

    more neutral than 'bestselling'; used for any product that ranks high in sales, not just books.

  • popular

    broader meaning; implies many people like it but not necessarily that sales numbers are high.

  • blockbuster

    more informal and dramatic; used mainly for films, books, or games that are enormous hits.

Antonyms
  • unsuccessful

    describes a product that failed to attract buyers.

  • obscure

    describes a book or work that very few people know about.

Grammar Patterns

bestselling + noun

Usage Note

Always used attributively before a noun. This adjective cannot appear after a linking verb (e.g. ✗ 'This book is bestselling'). The noun phrase 'a bestseller' is used instead.

Common Mistakes

This novel is bestselling around the world.
This novel is a bestseller around the world.
'bestselling' is an attributive adjective; use the noun 'bestseller' after a linking verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe products that sell well, but they differ in scope and register. 'Bestselling' is the most precise term for a product that is bought in very large numbers, typically measured by official sales charts. 'Top-selling' overlaps closely but sounds more neutral and is used across all product categories (cars, phones, etc.), not just creative works. 'Popular' is broader: a product can be popular with critics or a niche audience without being a sales phenomenon. 'Blockbuster' is informal and carries dramatic, high-impact connotations — it is most common for Hollywood films, bestselling novels, and big-budget video games. 'Hot-selling' is more informal and suggests a current, possibly short-lived trend. In formal or journalistic writing about books, 'bestselling' remains the standard choice.

top-sellingpopular ↗blockbuster ↗hot-selling

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • internationally bestselling
  • hugely bestselling
  • instantly bestselling

Phrases

  • bestselling author of
  • became an instant bestselling

Etymology

English

Formed by combining the adjectives 'best' and 'selling', modelled after the noun 'bestseller' (first recorded in the 1880s in the US book trade). The compressed compound form 'bestselling' (one word, no hyphen) became standard in the late 20th century.