title role

American  

noun

1. (in a play, opera, etc.) the role or character from which the title is derived.

   She sang the title role in Carmen.

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title role British  

noun

1. the role of the character after whom a play, etc, is named

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Etymology

Origin of title role

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Clooney has been praised for playing the title role in Jay Kelly, with New York Magazine saying his turn as an aging movie stars was "the performance of his life".

From BBC

Gil Gerard, an actor best known for his title roles in ‘Buck Rogers in the 25th Century’ on screens big and small, died Tuesday of cancer.

From Los Angeles Times

Safdie said the 29-year-old Franco-American actor was tailor-made for the title role and wholly committed to the project from the get-go.

From Barron's

NBC’s interest led to his casting in the title role in Universal Pictures’ “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” starring alongside Erin Gray as Col.

From Los Angeles Times

So it was reasonable to expect that his “Tartuffe,” at New York Theatre Workshop and featuring Matthew Broderick in the title role, might take bold and interesting liberties with Molière’s 1664 play.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• advantage
• edge
• margin
• point
• start
• supremacy
• top