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

Roles outside of the Queen of the Night included the title role in “Lucia di Lammermoor,” the princess in “The Snow Queen,” Zerlina in “Don Giovanni” and Pat Nixon in “Nixon in China.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

With the title role in coming-of-age teen drama Dawson's Creek, he walked some of the industry's hottest red carpets, and his face plastered magazine covers - one even dubbing him a "new superstar".

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

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 • Dec. 23, 2025

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 • Dec. 17, 2025

We were supposed to be doing Peter Pan for the winter musical, and I was basically dying to play the title role, but it was canceled too.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Related Words

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