Synonyms

shooting star

American

noun

meteor.
Also called prairie pointer. Also called American cowslip. any of several North American plants of the genus Dodecatheon, especially D. meadia, having pink or white flowers with reflexed petals and stamens forming a pointed beak.

shooting star British

noun

an informal name for meteor

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of shooting star

First recorded in 1585–95

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.

The daily chart shows the Australian dollar-U.S. dollar pair posted shooting star patterns last Thursday and Friday and closed below the 2023 high, the senior market analyst notes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Notice the bearish shooting star that started the weakness on Dec. 5.

From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026

Every now and then, a shooting star blazes over occupants’ heads.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Round number theory then came into play at $30 with a bearish shooting star candle on March 19.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

She stared up at the sky for a long time; a shooting star arched from west to east, scattering light behind it like dust on a trail.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023