star-maker
noun
star-mak·er
ˈstär-ˌmā-kər 
variants
or starmaker
plural star-makers or starmakers
: someone or something that creates a star
especially
: a person or performance that makes or helps to make someone a star in the entertainment industry
As producer and/or director, Judd Apatow is nothing less than a starmaker, elevating the careers of Steve Carell ("The 40-Year-Old Virgin"), Kristen Wiig ("Bridesmaids") and many more into legit movie stardom. —
Matt Pais
Matt Pais Jay Leno said he's looking forward to being a star-maker for young comedians on his new prime-time show. —Lynn Elber
Lynn Elber … Miller has no regrets. Unlike those other roles, her part in "Sister Act" is a star-maker. —Mark Kennedy
Mark Kennedy Examples of star-maker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebel Ridge is just the polar opposite, a killer slow burn action film and a star-maker for Aaron Pierre.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, the horror version of Drag Race, began here on a rickety stage at a gay bar and has grown into a drag star-maker in its own right since being picked up by streamers like Amazon Prime and Shudder.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
None of the performances feels like a potential star-maker like that of Chiara Aurelia and Olivia Holt in season 1.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 5 June 2023
The man in charge of this band of merrymakers is Nigel Petersen — a thinly disguised Lorne Michaels — an inscrutable star-maker whose whims have shaped late-night comedy since the early 1980s.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2023
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.
Paul Tassi, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, the horror version of Drag Race, began here on a rickety stage at a gay bar and has grown into a drag star-maker in its own right since being picked up by streamers like Amazon Prime and Shudder.
—Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
None of the performances feels like a potential star-maker like that of Chiara Aurelia and Olivia Holt in season 1.
—Joshua Alston, Variety, 5 June 2023
The man in charge of this band of merrymakers is Nigel Petersen — a thinly disguised Lorne Michaels — an inscrutable star-maker whose whims have shaped late-night comedy since the early 1980s.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near star-maker
Cite this Entry
“Star-maker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/star-maker. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share