has-been

[haz-bin]

noun

1. a person or thing that is no longer effective, successful, popular, etc.

has-been

noun

1. informal,  a person or thing that is no longer popular, successful, effective, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of has-been¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

He’s invited her to coffee not as father and daughter, but as a has-been angling to cast Nora as the lead of his next film, which he claims he’s written for her.

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But what if you’d taken this role about a Hollywood has-been and the show flopped?

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Fearing he’s a has-been, the diminutive, balding Hart slowly succumbs to self-loathing.

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The former president and California governor was a Hollywood has-been until Spencer came along and turned him into something compelling and new, something they called a “citizen-politician.”

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The actor is also known for playing a meta-version of himself in “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23,” where he’s a smarmy has-been nicknamed “The Beek From the Creek.”

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Related Words

• antiquated 
• archaic 
• obsolete 
• old 
• out-of-date 
• outmoded 

When To Use

What does has-been mean?

Has-been is a negative term for a person who is considered to have lost or to be far removed from the success, popularity, or skill that they once had.Has-been is used as an insult. It’s most often applied to famous people, such as athletes and actors—to be called a has-been, a person has to have been known for having an outstanding quality.Another insulting term based on has-been is never-was, which is intended to suggest that a person was never known for having any outstanding qualities. It’s typically used in conjunction with has-been to insult someone in an even worse way, as in You’re not even a has-been—you’re a never-was! Another less-common term formed in the same way is could-have-been, referring to a person who never became successful but could have. This can be an insult or a compliment, depending on how it’s used.Example: I don’t need advice from some has-been—I want to learn from someone who’s been able to stay in the game.