blockbuster

C1 Topic:Media & Publishing

US /ˈblɑkˌbʌs.tɚ/ UK /ˈblɒkˌbʌs.tə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

noun Freq #22644

Meanings

1

noun
A book, film, or show that is very popular and successful.

The studio's latest blockbuster broke box office records.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a book, film, or show that... smash hitmegahit

Word family

Forms blockbusters

Derived forms blockbusterishblockbusterizebonkbusterknockbustermegablockbustermockbusternonblockbusterschlockbuster

Related forms blockblockbustbustdambuster

Common collocations

blockbuster movie Adjective + noun

Etymology

From block + buster, referring originally to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings.

Topics

Media & Publishing Word Formation & Derivatives

# blockbuster

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈblɑkˌbʌs.tɚ
**IPA (UK):** ˈblɒkˌbʌs.tə(ɹ)
**Frequency rank:** 22644

## Meanings
1. A book, film, or show that is very popular and successful.

## Examples
- The studio's latest blockbuster broke box office records.

## Derived Forms
- blockbusterish
- blockbusterize
- bonkbuster
- knockbuster
- megablockbuster
- mockbuster
- nonblockbuster
- schlockbuster

## Related Forms
- block
- blockbust
- bust
- dambuster

## Etymology
From block + buster, referring originally to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings.

## AI Etymology
Blockbuster is from block + buster, referring originally to aerial bombs capable of destroying a whole block of buildings. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern nominal form is built from the named base and affix. In present-day use, it means a book, film, or show that is very popular and successful. Related forms include block, blockbust, bust, dambuster. Derived formations include blockbusterish, blockbusterize, bonkbuster, knockbuster, megablockbuster.

## Topics
- Media & Publishing
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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