star
star — verb
- starpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stars3rd person singular
- starring-ing form
- starredpast simple
1. to act the leading character of a movie, theatre piece, or television show; also
to act the leading character of a movie, theatre piece, or television show; also said of the show itself, meaning that it gives that lead character to a specific performer.
Sayaka starred in a Japanese film about a deaf violinist who learns to dance.
intransitive: star in + [work]
The new spy thriller stars Jude Law as a retired agent dragged back into the field.
transitive: [work] stars [actor] as [role]
Christopher dreamed of starring in a Broadway musical ever since his school choir won a city prize.
Élise turned down the offer to star opposite a much older actor in the romance.
collocation: star opposite [co-actor]
The cartoon, which stars a clumsy panda, has become popular with children across Asia.
- star in a film
- star as [character]
- star opposite [co-actor]
- star alongside [co-actor]
- support
play a smaller role beside the lead
Grammar Patterns
star in + film/show
[film] + stars + [actor]
Usage Note
Subject pattern depends on transitivity: when intransitive, the subject is the actor and a 'in + work' phrase follows; when transitive, the subject is the film, show, or play and the object is the actor. Often paired with 'as' to name the role.
Common Mistakes
star — noun
- starsingular
- starsplural
1. a huge ball of hot, glowing gas far out in space, which from Earth looks like a
a huge ball of hot, glowing gas far out in space, which from Earth looks like a tiny bright spot in the night sky.
Hana lay on the grass and counted the stars above her tent.
plural countable: stars in the sky
On a clear night in the desert, you can see thousands of stars.
typical setting: clear night, dark place
The Sun is the closest star to our planet.
scientific use: the Sun classed as a star
Soraya's astronomy class watched a video showing how a star forms from a cloud of gas and dust.
scientific use: how a star forms
Yara joined the Hubble team to track how one star changes over millions of years.
research collocation: track how a star changes
- bright star
- distant star
- see the stars
- under the stars
- millions of stars
- sun
any star can be called a sun in poetic or sci-fi use; in everyday English 'sun' means our own star
Grammar Patterns
a/the + star
stars in the sky
Usage Note
Often plural in everyday talk about the night sky (look at the stars), singular when naming a specific one (a bright star, the North Star).
Common Mistakes
2. someone who is widely known and admired for being very good at acting, music, sp
someone who is widely known and admired for being very good at acting, music, sport, or another public activity.
Christopher dreams of becoming a football star like the players he watches on TV.
[field] + star: football star, pop star, movie star
Reporters waited outside the hotel hoping to photograph the pop star.
Ziad was a tennis star in the 1990s and now coaches young players.
common pattern: was a star in [decade/era]
The film festival brought stars from all over Europe to the small town.
Eli started posting cooking videos online and slowly became a YouTube star.
modern: YouTube / social media star
- pop star
- movie star
- rock star
- rising star
- tennis star
- unknown
informal: an 'unknown' is a performer the public has not heard of
Grammar Patterns
a star of [field]
[field] + star
Usage Note
Frequently appears as a compound: 'pop star', 'movie star', 'rock star', 'football star'. The compound form is much more common than 'star of pop' or 'star of football'.
Common Mistakes
3. the actor or performer who has the leading role in one specific movie, theatre p
the actor or performer who has the leading role in one specific movie, theatre piece, or TV series, with their name placed most prominently in the credits.
Élise was the star of the school play and her parents filmed every scene.
the star of [the play/film]
The two stars of the new spy film travelled to Tokyo to promote it.
plural: two stars (lead pair)
Tanvi played a small part before she became the star of a hit Netflix series.
narrative arc: small part -> star
Although the show had famous guests, the real star was the eight-year-old singer.
the real star = whoever stands out most
Posters at the cinema showed the star holding a silver pistol.
- the star of the show
- the star of the film
- play the star
- co-star
- extra
an actor with a tiny, often silent part in the background
Grammar Patterns
the star of [film/show]
Usage Note
Distinct from sense 2: a 'star' here means the lead role of one specific work, while sense 2 names a generally famous performer. Often used with the definite article 'the': 'the star of the film'.
Common Mistakes
4. someone, or something, that clearly stands out as the strongest, most impressive
someone, or something, that clearly stands out as the strongest, most impressive, or most popular member within a team, class, company, or other group.
Nadia is the star of the maths class and helps the others before each test.
the star of the [class/team]
The chocolate cake was the star of the bakery's new menu.
non-human subject: a product/dish as the star
Mauricio joined the company last year and quickly became its star salesperson.
star + role noun: star salesperson, star pupil
Among the puppies at the shelter, a small black one was clearly the star.
Their goalkeeper was the star of last weekend's match against the visiting team.
- star pupil
- star player
- star witness
- star of the team
- rising star
- standout
a person or thing that is clearly better than the rest; informal
- top performer
more neutral, common in workplace English
- weak link
the worst member, the one who lets the group down
Grammar Patterns
the star of [the team/class/department]
Usage Note
Often pre-modifies another noun: 'star pupil', 'star player', 'star witness'. Distinguish from sense 2 (publicly famous performer): the 'star' here may be unknown outside the small group.
Common Mistakes
5. a flat figure with several sharp points sticking outward (usually five), often d
a flat figure with several sharp points sticking outward (usually five), often drawn, printed, or made as a decoration.
Sade cut yellow paper stars and stuck them all over her bedroom door.
decoration: paper / cardboard stars
The Christmas tree had a silver star at the top.
fixed phrase: a star at the top of the tree
Children in the kindergarten drew stars and rainbows on the wall.
The biscuits were baked in the shape of a star.
in the shape of a star
A red star is printed on the front of the soldier's cap.
- paper star
- gold star
- five-pointed star
- in the shape of a star
- a star on the flag
- asterisk
specifically the typed symbol *, used in writing
Grammar Patterns
a star (shape)
in the shape of a star
Usage Note
Refers to the drawn or made shape, not the heavenly body in sense 1. Often appears with materials or colours: 'a paper star', 'a gold star', 'a wooden star'.
Common Mistakes
6. a small star-shaped mark given to a hotel, restaurant, film, or product as part
a small star-shaped mark given to a hotel, restaurant, film, or product as part of a quality scale, where a higher number of stars signals better quality.
Inês booked a four-star hotel near the old town in Lisbon.
[number]-star + hotel/restaurant
The new pizza place earned five stars from almost every customer.
earn / receive [n] stars
Leo gave the film three stars out of five in his blog review.
[n] stars out of [n]
The travel app only shows hotels with at least three stars.
filter: at least [n] stars
Even small drops in cleanliness can cost a restaurant a star.
- five-star hotel
- three-star restaurant
- give [n] stars
- earn [n] stars
- out of five stars
- rating
the broader term — stars are one common form of rating
Grammar Patterns
[number]-star + noun
a [n] star hotel/restaurant
Usage Note
Frequently hyphenated when modifying a noun: 'a five-star hotel', 'a two-star review'. Without a noun after, no hyphen is needed: 'The hotel has five stars.'
Common Mistakes
7. a small star-shaped piece of metal or fabric pinned to a uniform to mark how sen
a small star-shaped piece of metal or fabric pinned to a uniform to mark how senior an officer in the army, police, or a similar service is.
The new general had four silver stars sewn onto each shoulder of his uniform.
stars + on/sewn onto + uniform
Officer Adaeze polished the gold star on her cap before the parade.
the star on [piece of uniform]
In many armies, a colonel who earns one more star becomes a brigadier.
earn / gain a star = promotion
Tomás saluted the officer with three stars on his collar.
[number] stars on + body part of uniform
The sheriff wore a six-pointed metal star pinned above his shirt pocket.
metal star pinned to clothing
- four-star general
- wear a star
- earn another star
- stars on one's shoulder
Grammar Patterns
a [number]-star [officer/general]
Usage Note
Subject is usually an officer, sheriff, or similar role; the noun is almost always plural when counting rank (one star, two stars, four stars), and singular when describing a sheriff's badge. Distinguish from sense 5 (a drawn or printed shape) — this sense refers to the physical metal or cloth object on a uniform.
Common Mistakes
8. an informal name for the printed mark *, used in writing to point readers to a f
an informal name for the printed mark *, used in writing to point readers to a footnote, to mark something on a list, or to hide letters in a password.
Hana put a small star next to every word she still needed to memorise.
put a star next to [item]
Required fields on the form are marked with a red star next to each label.
passive: marked with a star
The footnote begins with a star and explains where the data comes from.
star = pointer to footnote
When Kofi typed his password, the screen showed only stars instead of letters.
stars hide password characters
Please put a star beside any name on the list you do not recognise.
imperative: put a star beside [item]
- mark with a star
- put a star next to
- a red star
- starred items
- asterisk
the technical name; preferred in formal writing and grammar books
Grammar Patterns
mark/put a star next to/beside [item]
Usage Note
Often interchangeable with 'asterisk' in everyday speech, but 'star' is the casual word and 'asterisk' the technical one. Frequently appears with 'put', 'mark', 'add', or 'next to / beside / by'.
Common Mistakes
9. in astrology, the planets and patterns in the night sky thought to shape someone
in astrology, the planets and patterns in the night sky thought to shape someone's luck, love life, or future — also used for the short forecast about them printed in a paper or magazine.
Imani believes the stars decide whether a marriage will last or fail.
the stars + verb (control / decide)
Mei's grandmother glanced at the chart and said her stars favoured a new business this month.
one's stars favour / oppose [activity]
Niran refused to sign the contract because his stars warned of money trouble.
one's stars warn / advise / promise
Yusra's father often tells her to thank her lucky stars when something good happens by chance.
fixed phrase: thank one's lucky stars
Putri reads her stars in the Sunday paper before she opens any other section.
read one's stars + in [publication]
- thank one's lucky stars
- the stars are aligned
- one's stars say/foretell
- born under a lucky star
- read one's stars
- this week's stars
Grammar Patterns
one's stars + verb
read one's stars (in a magazine/newspaper)
Usage Note
Almost always plural and almost always with a possessive ('my stars', 'her lucky stars'). Covers both the abstract astrological influence and the printed horoscope column — verbs that signal the printed-text use are 'read', 'check', and 'say'. More common in British English than American (which prefers 'horoscope'). Distinguish from sense 1 (the physical balls of burning gas) — here the focus is on supposed influence over human life, not the astronomical object itself.
Common Mistakes
10. an affectionate name for a person you want to thank because they have been kind,
an affectionate name for a person you want to thank because they have been kind, brave, or extra helpful — used like a compliment, especially in everyday speech.
"Thanks for picking the kids up from school — you're a real star, Anjali."
you're a (real) star + thanks
Theo stayed late to finish my report; he's an absolute star.
absolute / total star
Marisol is such a star — she stayed late every night to finish the office holiday cards.
such a star + reason clause
"Could you bring an extra chair? Oh, you're a star."
spoken thanks: oh, you're a star
Aoi was a complete star during the move, lifting boxes nobody else wanted to touch.
complete star + during/at [event]
- you're a star
- an absolute star
- a real star
- a total star
Grammar Patterns
You're a star!
[Name] is a (real/total) star
Usage Note
Almost always after the indefinite article — 'a star', 'a real star', 'an absolute star'. Common in British everyday speech as a warm, slightly informal way to thank someone. Don't confuse with sense 2 (a famous performer): here the person is praised privately, not publicly known.
Common Mistakes
reach for the stars
idiomto set yourself a very ambitious goal and try hard to achieve it, even though it may be difficult.
Coach Okafor told the young runners to reach for the stars and never settle for second place.
Her grandmother always said you should reach for the stars while you are still young.
see stars
idiomto feel dizzy and notice flashes of light, especially after a strong knock to the head.
Leo banged his head on the low door frame and saw stars for a few seconds.
The boxer was hit hard on the chin and said he was seeing stars.
stars in your eyes
idiom(of someone) to be full of dreams about becoming famous, especially as a singer, actor, or other performer.
Tanvi arrived in Mumbai with stars in her eyes, hoping to land a role in a film.
Many young singers come to the city with stars in their eyes and very little money.
to feel very lucky and grateful that something bad did not happen, or that something good worked out.
Ada thanked her lucky stars that she had taken an earlier train and missed the accident.
You can thank your lucky stars the rain stopped just before the wedding started.
star — adjective
- starpositive
- starrercomparative
- starrestsuperlative
1. used ONLY directly in front of a role noun (pupil, player, witness, reporter, st
used ONLY directly in front of a role noun (pupil, player, witness, reporter, striker, product) and combined with the indefinite article ('a star pupil', 'our star striker') to flag the named holder as the standout in that role; rejects predicative position after 'be' or 'seem', rejects an 'of [group]' phrase after it ('*a star of the team' takes noun/4 instead), and has no comparative or superlative form.
Putri is the star pupil of her violin class and plays at every school concert.
star + pupil: best learner in a class
The coach left the star striker on the bench because of a knee injury.
star + striker: top performer on a sports team
Kian was the star witness at the trial and spoke for almost two hours.
star + witness: most important witness in a court case
The bakery's star product is a chocolate cake topped with fresh raspberries.
star + product: best-selling or most-praised item
Hiro became the star reporter at the newspaper after his story on the floods.
- star pupil
- star player
- star striker
- star witness
- star performer
- star attraction
- star turn
- star quality
- leading
similar in 'leading actor / leading expert'; slightly more formal and less about fame.
- top
very close in meaning ('top student'); plainer and works in more contexts.
- outstanding
predicative-friendly ('the work is outstanding') where 'star' cannot go.
Grammar Patterns
star + noun (e.g. star pupil, star striker, star witness)
Usage Note
Syntactic test that separates this adjective from noun/4: this sense takes the pattern '[a/the] + star + [role noun]' with NO 'of' phrase after — 'a star pupil', 'the star striker', 'our star witness'. Noun/4 takes the opposite shape — 'the' + 'star' + 'of [group]' — as in 'the star of the team', 'the star of her class'. Therefore '*a star of the team' fails as adjective/1 (use noun/4: 'the star of the team'); '*she is star' fails because this sense rejects predicative position; switch to noun/4 for any 'be the star of …' sentence. No comparative or superlative form ('*more star', '*most star' impossible).
Common Mistakes
Word family
- starryadjectiveB2
- starlessadjectiveC1
- stardomnounC1
- starlightnounB2
- starlitadjectiveC1
- starfishnounB1
- starshipnounB2
- stargazernounC1
- stargazingnounC1
- co-starnounB2
- co-starverbB2
- superstarnounB1
- starringadjectiveB2
- starry-eyedadjectiveC1
- starstruckadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All five words name people the public knows by name, but they differ in why and how. A 'star' is admired mainly because they are very good at what they do — acting, singing, sport — and the word feels neutral and warm. A 'celebrity' may be famous simply for being recognised; the talent need not match the fame, and the tone can be slightly cooler. An 'icon' is bigger and more lasting: someone whose name represents a whole era or style (David Bowie as a music icon). A 'luminary' is more formal and usually intellectual or professional — a leading scientist, judge, or writer, rather than a pop performer. An 'idol' adds the idea of devoted fans who almost worship the person, common in K-pop and teen culture. Examples: 'a tennis star' (skill), 'a reality-TV celebrity' (recognition), 'a fashion icon' (era-defining), 'a literary luminary' (formal eminence), 'a teen idol' (passionate fandom).
Common collocations
Nouns
- rising star
- fading star
- pop star
- movie star
- rock star
- film star
- guiding star
- lucky star
- shooting star
- lone star
- all-star cast
- star quality
- star power
- star turn
Adverbs
- brightly (shine)
- faintly (twinkle)
- currently (starring)
Phrases
- reach for the stars
- see stars
- thank one's lucky stars
- stars in one's eyes
- the stars are aligned
- born under a lucky star
- wish upon a star
- fall from stardom
Prepositions
- star in (a film/show)
- star as (a character)
- star opposite (a co-actor)
- star alongside (another performer)
- the star of (a film/team/class)
- under the stars
- born under (a lucky star)
Etymology
The everyday word for the bright points in the night sky comes from Old English steorra, which traces back to a Proto-Germanic form *sternô shared with German Stern and Dutch ster. That Germanic root in turn descends from a Proto-Indo-European stem also seen in Latin stella and Greek astēr (the source of words like astronomy and asterisk). The figurative senses — a celebrated performer, a top member of a group, a quality rating — grew in English from the late 1500s onward, drawing on the long-standing image of stars as bright, admired, and high above the rest.
First known use
12th century
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Verb