costar

or co-star

[ noun koh-stahr; verb koh-stahr ]

/ noun ˈkoʊˌstɑr; verb ˈkoʊˈstɑr /

noun

a performer, especially an actor or actress, who shares star billing with another.

a performer whose status is slightly below that of a star.

verb (used without object), co·starred, co·star·ring.

to share star billing with another performer.

to receive billing of slightly less status than that of a star.

verb (used with object), co·starred, co·star·ring.

to present (two or more actors) as having equal billing or prominence.

to present as having slightly less status than that of a star.

Origin of costar

An Americanism dating back to 1915–20; co- + star

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for co-star

She said that her co-star, Alfre Woodard, talked to her about it a cocktail party that night.
It’s Time to Stop Hating Katherine Heigl|Kevin Fallon|November 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He talks about the first sexual encounters he had with a man, a co-star from when he was starring in Rent on Broadway.
Choose Your Own Neil Patrick Harris: The Star on ‘Doogie,’ ‘Gone Girl,’ Gay Sex and More|Kevin Fallon|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Both Sheldon Leonard, who created the show, and Robert Culp, who was his co-star, were socially conscious.
A Full-Length Bill Cosby Portrait: From Track Star to Ugly Sweaters|Scott Porch|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The story of how it was orchestrated—by co-star Julianna Margulies, no less—has been endearingly documented.
Josh Charles on Life After ‘The Good Wife’ and His Insane Movie ‘Bird People’|Kevin Fallon|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

So, Streep rewrote much of her dialogue, which led to tension with her co-star, Hoffman, who felt she was trying to upstage him.
Co-Stars Who Hated Each Other: Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in 'The Notebook' and More|Marlow Stern|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for co-star

co-star

noun

an actor who shares star billing with another

verb -stars, -starring or -starred

(intr often foll by with) to share star billing (with another actor)

(tr) to present as sharing top billingthe film co-starred Mae West and W. C. Fields

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

Word Origin and History for co-star

co-star

also costar, 1919 as a verb; 1926 as a noun, from co- + star (v.).

costar

or co-star

noun

verb (used without object), co·starred, co·star·ring.

verb (used with object), co·starred, co·star·ring.

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Nearby words

Origin of costar

Examples from the Web for co-star

British Dictionary definitions for co-star

co-star

noun

verb -stars, -starring or -starred

Word Origin and History for co-star

co-star