blockbuster
Americannoun
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an aerial bomb containing high explosives and weighing from four to eight tons, used as a large-scale demolition bomb.
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a motion picture, novel, etc., especially one lavishly produced, that has or is expected to have wide popular appeal or financial success.
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something or someone that is forcefully or overwhelmingly impressive, effective, or influential.
The campaign was a blockbuster.
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a real-estate speculator who practices blockbusting.
noun
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a large bomb used to demolish extensive areas or strengthened targets
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a very successful, effective, or forceful person, thing, etc
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a lavish film, show, novel, etc, that proves to be an outstanding popular success
Etymology
Origin of blockbuster
Explanation
A blockbuster is a Hollywood movie that's made with a large budget and big stars. A true blockbuster is extremely popular and brings in a lot of money. Typically, a blockbuster is a fabulous summer movie that audiences line up to see the first weekend it's released. You can also call a successful play or a new, popular video game a blockbuster. Less, often, a huge bomb is a blockbuster — this is the word's original, 1940s meaning, from the fact that such a bomb could destroy an entire city block. The entertainment meaning, from the 1950s, began as theater slang.
Vocabulary lists containing blockbuster
And the Oscar Goes to... Award-worthy Words
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Academy Awards, List 4
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This Week in Words: Current Event Vocabulary for November 4–November 10, 2023
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Blockbuster romance Saiyaara followed a troubled male rockstar who ultimately "rescues" his partner who is struggling with Alzheimer's disease.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026
Blockbuster IPOs earlier in 2026 could set performance expectations for those that follow.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025
A $40 late fee on a Blockbuster Video rental led to the creation of the company that has swallowed Hollywood.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 6, 2025
Hastings and Sarandos’ enterprise was largely responsible for bankrupting the then-dominant video rental chain, Blockbuster.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025
Then he stopped at the Blockbuster and got a movie in case the TV cable went out again.
From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
