marquee
Americannoun
-
a tall rooflike projection above a theater entrance, usually containing the name of a currently featured play or film and its stars.
-
a rooflike shelter, as of glass, projecting above an outer door and over a sidewalk or a terrace.
-
British. Also a large tent or tentlike shelter with open sides, especially one for temporary use in outdoor entertainments, receptions, etc.
adjective
noun
-
a large tent used for entertainment, exhibition, etc
-
Also called: marquise. a canopy over the entrance to a theatre, hotel, etc
-
(modifier) celebrated or pre-eminent
a marquee player
Etymology
Origin of marquee
1680–90; assumed singular of marquise, taken as plural
Explanation
A marquee is the roof-like overhang at the doorway of a hotel or theater, often holding a sign. You could choose a Broadway play just by wandering past the theaters and picking out a marquee that looks interesting. A marquee is a theater sign or canopy that protrudes above a building's entrance. Movie theaters and performing arts theaters can have marquees, as can hotels and many other buildings. Marquee can also describe a person with a starring role, almost always preceding the word player, like when you describe the most well-known member of your local mime troupe as your "marquee player."
Vocabulary lists containing marquee
This Week In Words: September 28–October 4, 2019
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Nickel Boys
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Two marquee buildings, including the high-rise, were designed by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, best known as the lead designer of the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
But in football, Florida’s marquee high-school sport, the TFA Royals were an afterthought with small players and a cupcake schedule.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 28, 2026
"It's going to be a big local Borders event with a marquee on the lawn and a lot of stuff being sold," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
With marquee events like the ongoing World Cup, the upcoming U.S.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
The marquee in front of the church is advertising a Saturday night “tent revival,” which sounds like the perfect entertainment for an atheist out on her own.
From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
