super
noun
Jump To:
-
super
-
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 ).
-
super.
super.abbreviationsuperintendent.
super
1 American
[soo-per]
/ ˈsu pər /
noun
supers
plural
-
Informal.
-
a superintendent, especially of an apartment house.
-
-
an article of a superior quality, grade, size, etc.
-
(in beekeeping) the portion of a hive in which honey is stored.
-
Printing. supercalendered paper.
-
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
-
of the highest degree, power, etc.
-
of an extreme or excessive degree.
-
Informal. very good; first-rate; excellent.
-
(of measurement) superficial.
adverb
super-
2
American
super.
3
American
abbreviation
-
superintendent.
-
superior.
super
1
British
/ ˈsuːpə /
adjective
noun
-
petrol with a high octane rating
-
informal a superintendent or supervisor
-
informal superannuation benefits
-
informal superphosphate
interjection
super-
2
British
prefix
-
placed above or over
superscript
-
of greater size, extent, quality, etc
supermarket
-
surpassing others; outstanding
superstar
-
beyond a standard or norm; exceeding or exceedingly
supersonic
-
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:
"That restorative sleep is super important for physical repair, learning and memory and washing out the toxins of the day," Macauley said.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
Justice Abba, Scotland's number one in the super heavyweight class, is beating a punchbag into submission.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
Scientists say a brewing "super" El Nino in the equatorial Pacific could also be influencing the heat dome.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
“I want to be super clear: this is not about what any one person’s views are right now,” he told The 19th in Bangor.
From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026
Eddie leans back in the chair, and I’m super proud when it doesn’t even creak.
From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy
I’m super- excited just to go there and let my presence be known and seen, and my voice be heard and let them know that we are fighting with them and they are not alone.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 23, 2023
“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
Venus didn’t have any moons or satellites or even a magnetic field, but it did have an atmosphere sort of similar to Earth’s, except it was super- hot—about five hundred degrees or more.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
“But, if you look around, he’s not the only horse training super. There’s a lot of good horses. Any number of them can win.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2022
"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
"The whole band are super. We had a lot of fun during those rehearsals. We laughed all the time."
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 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
“Iced tea would be super. I can’t stay long,” Shelly said.
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
Indiana State is the only team making its first appearance in supers.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 6, 2023
Most of the series' supers parody famous heroes from the Marvel and DC Universes, and Termite, as the moniker suggests, is the show's perverse answer to Ant-Man, minus the goodness and charm.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 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
“I started my career in the ’90s, surrounded by the goddess supers who truly understood the power of tone-on-tone color layering to play up their features,” Ms. Tilbury said.
From New York Times ● Jan. 13, 2022
Zach, I noticed, had stopped loading supers onto the hand truck and watched, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe he was witnessing another scene where people’s worst sides come out.
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.
