super
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super
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super-
super-a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “above, beyond.” Words formed with super- have the following general senses: “to place or be placed above or over” (superimpose; supersede ), “a thing placed over or added to another” (superscript; superstructure; supertax ), “situated over” (superficial; superlunary ) and, more figuratively, “an individual, thing, or property that exceeds customary norms or levels” (superalloy; superconductivity; superman; superstar ), “an individual or thing larger, more powerful, or with wider application than others of its kind” (supercomputer; superhighway; superpower; supertanker ), “exceeding the norms or limits of a given class” (superhuman; superplastic ), “having the specified property to a great or excessive degree” (supercritical; superfine; supersensitive ), “to subject to (a physical process) to an extreme degree or in an unusual way” (supercharge; supercool; supersaturate ), “a category that embraces a number of lesser items of the specified kind” (superfamily; supergalaxy ), “a chemical compound with a higher proportion than usual of a given constituent” (superphosphate ).
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super.
super.abbreviationsuperintendent.
super
1 American
[soo-per]
/ ˈsu pər /
noun
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supers
plural
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Informal.
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a superintendent, especially of an apartment house.
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an article of a superior quality, grade, size, etc.
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(in beekeeping) the portion of a hive in which honey is stored.
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Printing. supercalendered paper.
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Television. an additional image superimposed on the original video image.
A super of the guest's name is included under the picture when the guest is introduced.
adjective
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of the highest degree, power, etc.
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of an extreme or excessive degree.
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Informal. very good; first-rate; excellent.
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(of measurement) superficial.
adverb
super-
2
American
super.
3
American
abbreviation
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superintendent.
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superior.
super
1
British
/ ˈsuːpə /
adjective
noun
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petrol with a high octane rating
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informal a superintendent or supervisor
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informal superannuation benefits
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informal superphosphate
interjection
super-
2
British
prefix
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placed above or over
superscript
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of greater size, extent, quality, etc
supermarket
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surpassing others; outstanding
superstar
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beyond a standard or norm; exceeding or exceedingly
supersonic
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indicating that a chemical compound contains a specified element in a higher proportion than usual
superoxide
Usage
What is a basic definition of super? Super is an adjective that describes something as of the highest power or an extreme degree or as excellent. Super is also used in slang as an adverb meaning very or extremely. Super has several other senses as a noun and an adjective. If something is super, it is of the highest power, rank, authority, or similar quality or is the most extreme. Unsurprisingly, this sense of super is often used for emphasis in marketing or informal writing.
- Real-life examples: A store might advertise a super sale that is supposedly the biggest one of the year. A lottery might have a super jackpot that is the largest jackpot possible. The National Football League’s biggest and most important game is called the Super Bowl. In the United States, the term Super Tuesday refers to the day when the most states hold presidential primary elections.
- Used in a sentence: Many people are concerned about the influence super PACs have in politics because they don’t have a spending limit.
- Used in a sentence: Janet’s work on the project was super and earned her a promotion.
- Used in a sentence: My sister is so super scared of mice that seeing a cartoon mouse frightens her.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of super1
First recorded in 1620–30; 1920–25 super for def. 8; independent use of super- (construed as an adjective or adverb), or shortening of words prefixed with it
Origin of super-2
< Latin super (preposition and v. prefix) above, beyond, in addition, to an especially high degree; akin to Greek hypér ( see hyper-), Sanskrit upari; see over
Explanation
When something is extraordinary, it’s super, like a movie that couldn't possibly be better or the super grade you got on your test: A+. The adjective super is an abbreviated use of the prefix super-, which comes from the Latin super-, meaning “above,” “over,” or “beyond.” Super is another way to say "the best" — you are above the rest. Super can also describe something that's really big: the supermarket came along after little neighborhood shops; supermarkets are huge in comparison.
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.
See Examples For:
She says it makes sense to have more supplements around racing time "when the performance is super critical and very time dependent".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
"We used software developed by Nobel Prize winner David Baker and his group to redesign our antibody fragments, so they had the right charge and are super stable."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
This effectively "warped time" for brain development, which was "super cool", she added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
“Balance is super helpful when you’re young, from an athletic standpoint,” Burbank says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
I’ll be super quiet while I draw, so no one can complain about noise.
From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan
“Going there and watching kids play and feel like they belong there is super- magical,” he says.
From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2021
Viner likened Cruella to 2019's Joker, "another prequel that sought to explain how Batman's arch-enemy and super- villain emerged" adding that of course "one major difference is that this is a comedy aimed at children".
From BBC ● May 28, 2021
“Big brands are moving more towards working with micro-influencers than really big influencers, because the micro-influencers have super- engaged audiences.”
From The Guardian ● Jul. 14, 2019
But it wasn’t like that at all, especially not the super- human part.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 2016
Probably one of their super- special secret looks that I’m not included in.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
"We were pretty poor defensively, and Trae Young was super. The Hawks executed. They got everything they wanted. They deserve credit for that."
From Fox News ● Nov. 25, 2021
“He was very popular. He had lots and lots of friends. A good student. He was super. A really easygoing guy, a very good guy. Never in any trouble ever with anyone.”
From Washington Post ● Aug. 13, 2021
“He’s had a good week. Knock on wood, he’s been healthy, feeling good, jogging super. You can’t ask for anything more going into a big race than having confidence in your horse and driver.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 6, 2021
“I think that would be super. He was a special talent in a league where the rules were different. We had a lot of headhunters that we played against.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2019
Then she says, “That’s super. Can we go back to the part where you flat-out betrayed me?”
From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead
Indiana State is the only team making its first appearance in supers.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
In the same way that shreds the genre's standard of positioning good heroes against irredeemable villains, "Wakanda Forever" defies the habit of defining lead supers as extensions of their fathers.
From Salon ● Nov. 15, 2022
Filled with Savathûn’s Lucent Brood of Hive Lightbearers, this new but familiar enemy type has the ability to cast the type of supers that are usually only reserved for guardians.
From The Verge ● Feb. 8, 2022
Mississippi State will play Campbell in the final in the weather-delayed regional at Starkville and would have to lose twice to be denied a fifth straight appearance in supers.
From Fox News ● Jun. 7, 2021
August had us load up the empty supers and haul them out to the woods so the bees could come and do the big cleanup.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
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.
