star turn
noun
1
a
: a performance, role, or appearance (as in a movie or television show) that is done by a star or well-known personality
… she commands every scene. Hers is a true, potent star turn.—
Tom Gliatto
Tom GliattoSlater … delivers a surprisingly effective performance in this otherwise muddled thriller made before his attention-grabbing star turn in Heathers.—Ed Hulse
Ed Hulse… she would surely dump the bother of serving as Alaska's besieged governor for a lucrative star turn on Fox News.—Frank Rich
Frank Rich
b
: an outstanding performance or prominent role in or contribution to something
The fresh, soft, white Italian cheese called mascarpone is most famous for its star turn in tiramisu …—Jane Daniels Lear
Jane Daniels LearThe football gods would return the favor early in the fourth quarter on a strangely similar play that bounced Indy's way, with center Jeff Saturday getting the star turn.—Michael Silver
Michael Silver2
chiefly British
: the featured skit or number in a theatrical production
also
: the most outstanding or prominent person or thing in a group
The star turn of a recent lunch in the plant-filled conservatory was a Goan curry—chunks of succulent chicken breast in a sauce the color of pesto, made with green chilies and coriander. —R. W. Apple, Jr.
R. W. Apple, Jr. Examples of star turn in a Sentence
She was nominated for an Oscar for her star turn as a single mother raising three children alone.
She was the star turn in yesterday's game.
Recent Examples on the Web
Coach Carlo Ancelotti will be hoping for another star turn from Vinícius Júnior, who scored two against Scotland last time out and has four in total.
—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Emmy Award winner Fox grew up in Burnaby, Canada, before cementing his Hollywood career with star turns in Family Ties and the Back to the Future movie franchise.
—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
26 June 2026
Conaway followed his time on the Great White Way with guest-star turns on a number of television shows before joining the cast of the Grease film and becoming a series regular on the sitcom Taxi.
—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
The previously stoic pope is drawing huge crowds and seems to be making a star turn, enthralling the faithful with emotive assurance.
—
Anthony Faiola,
Washington Post,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for star turn
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David Hickey,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Emmy Award winner Fox grew up in Burnaby, Canada, before cementing his Hollywood career with star turns in Family Ties and the Back to the Future movie franchise.
—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
26 June 2026
Conaway followed his time on the Great White Way with guest-star turns on a number of television shows before joining the cast of the Grease film and becoming a series regular on the sitcom Taxi.
—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
The previously stoic pope is drawing huge crowds and seems to be making a star turn, enthralling the faithful with emotive assurance.
—
Anthony Faiola,
Washington Post,
7 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for star turn
Cite this Entry
“Star turn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/star%20turn. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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