super
noun
adjective
adverb
QUIZZES
THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?
Origin of super
Words nearby super
Definition for super (2 of 3)
Definition for super (3 of 3)
abbreviation
VOCAB BUILDER
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.
Informally, super is used to mean something is excellent.
- Used in a sentence: Janet’s work on the project was super and earned her a promotion.
Super is commonly used in slang as an adverb to mean very or extremely.
- Used in a sentence: My sister is so super scared of mice that seeing a cartoon mouse frightens her.
Where does super come from?
The first records of super come from around 1620. It is an independent word that comes from the Latin prefix super-, which means “above,” “beyond,” or “to a very high degree.”
Did you know ... ?
What are some synonyms for super?
What are some words that share a root or word element with super?
What are some words that often get used in discussing super?
How is super used in real life?
Super is a common word that is most often used in the slang sense meaning “extremely.”
I was super scared of the Bermuda Triangle as a kid.
— Olivia Puckett (@oliviapuckett) May 15, 2018
all Denny’s are connected by a system of super secret roads called “highways”
— Denny’s (@DennysDiner) July 21, 2019
France: Winner of €72 million Super Jackpot will give €50 million to charity. #nice
— Stefan de Vries (@stefandevries) May 29, 2014
Try using super!
True or False?
If someone says that a speaker is super loud, it means that the speaker is very loud.