costar

Or co-star

[koh-stahr, koh-stahr]

noun

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

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

verb (used without object)

costarred, costarring 

1. to share star billing with another performer.

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

verb (used with object)

costarred, costarring 

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of costar¹

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

Example Sentences

When he recalls the moment he told Candy that Jim Belushi died in 1981, Candy’s “SCTV” costar Dave Thomas tearfully recalls his friend saying, “Oh God, it’s starting.”

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Still, the number of new units under construction in Los Angeles has been falling each quarter since early last year and is set to dive to a more than 10-year low, according to real estate data provider CoStar.

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That’s 30% fewer than three years earlier, according to CoStar’s count.

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For while other actors were as photogenic on screen as Dean, including “Giant” costar Elizabeth Taylor, it’s difficult to think of another star who made such an impact with his still images.

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“Well, it’s Ken Watanabe; he has that aura, that presence that was overwhelming,” star Kento Yamazaki told Salon about his costar in the pivotal scene.

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