tentpole

noun

tent·​pole ˈtent-ˌpōl 

: a big-budget movie whose earnings are expected to compensate the studio for its less profitable movies

Examples of tentpole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The film, which defied genre conventions, resonated strongly with audiences, proving that festival season remains fertile ground for Telugu tentpoles. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025

What transpires during these tentpole events will spark much discussion and prompt bold preseason predictions from pigskin prognosticators. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025

The series has become one of HBO’s tentpole franchises, but White’s work has not always been so mainstream. —Erin Neil, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2025

Among the Korean tentpole projects previously announced by Netflix, Revelations will mark a film collaboration between Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho and Roma filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. —Sara Merican, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tentpole

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol