debut

American  

[dey-byoo, dih-, dey-byoo, deb-yoo] / deɪˈbju, dɪ-, ˈdeɪ bju, ˈdɛb ju /

Or début

noun

debuts plural

1. a first public appearance on a stage, on television, etc.

2. the first appearance of something, as a new product.

3. (of a young woman) a formal introduction and entrance into society, as at an annual ball.

4. the beginning of a profession, career, etc.

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verb (used without object)

debuts, present (3rd person singular) debuted, past participle, past debuting present participle

1. to make a debut, as in society or in a performing art.

   She decided to debut with several other violinists.

2. to appear for the first time, as on the market.

   A new product will debut next month.

verb (used with object)

debuts, present (3rd person singular) debuted, past participle, past debuting present participle

1. to perform (something) for the first time before an audience.

   He didn't know when the orchestra would debut his new symphony.

2. to place on the market for the first time; introduce.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or constituting a first appearance.

   a debut performance; a debut record album.

debut British  

/ ˈdeɪbjuː, ˈdɛbjuː /

noun

1. 1. the first public appearance of an actor, musician, etc, or the first public presentation of a show

   2. ( as modifier )

      debut album

2. the presentation of a debutante

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verb

1. to make a debut

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• debuts
  plural

Participles

• debuting
  present
• debuted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• debut
  simple
• debuts
  simple
• have debuted
  perfect
• has debuted
  perfect
• are debuting
  progressive
• am debuting
  progressive
• is debuting
  progressive
• have been debuting
  perfect progressive
• has been debuting
  perfect progressive

Past

• debuted
  simple
• had debuted
  perfect
• was debuting
  progressive
• were debuting
  progressive
• had been debuting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will debut
  simple
• will have debuted
  perfect
• will be debuting
  progressive
• will have been debuting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of debut

1745–55; < French début, derivative of débuter to make the first stroke in a game, make one's first appearance, equivalent to dé- de- + -buter, verbal derivative of but goal; see butt ²

Explanation

A debut is a first appearance, a launch, or public introduction. So before you make your big debut at the office, check and make sure you don't have spinach in your teeth. Perhaps you’ve heard of debutantes making their official debut into society, or actresses and actors making their debut on stage. A fun fact: debut and premiere are often thought to be interchangeable, but they’re not. A debut, as you now know, is a first public appearance. But a premiere, while also a “first,” isn't necessarily live. When a movie opens or an interview is broadcast for the first time, they're called premieres.

Example Sentences

Appeared in the April 28, 2026, print edition as 'A Defining Punk Debut'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

By 19, he was named music director of L.A.’s Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra and conducted the group — and soon, the full Los Angeles Philharmonic for youth concerts.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Debut host Tina Fey, a former “SNL” star and head writer, started her monologue with a cheeky explainer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Debut album Definitely Maybe, from 1994, is at number four - with only Sabrina Carpenter preventing them from completing a clean sweep of the top three.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2025

Was it originally Baudin's intention to ignore Bass's discovery of 1798, and, giving a French name to every feature of the coast in Terre Napoleon, to call Westernport "Port du Debut"?

From Terre Napoleón; a History of French Explorations and Projects in Australia by Scott, Ernest

Related Words

• appearance
• beginning
• inauguration
• introduction
• launching
• opener
• presentation