tentpole

noun

tent·​pole ˈtent-ˌpōl How to pronounce tentpole (audio)
: a big-budget movie whose earnings are expected to compensate the studio for its less profitable movies

Examples of tentpole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now, almost a decade-and-a-half later, the glitzy tentpole event for the Washington media establishment is a shadow of its former self, boycotted and browbeaten by President Donald Trump and his supporters. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025 Over in Japan, the streamer is launching its tentpole film Bullet Train Explosion on April 23. Sara Merican, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2025 That Marvel tentpole rockets into theaters on May 7, 2027, and will see the return of directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who haven't directed a film for the company since 2019's uber-successful Avengers: Endgame. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The Annecy Festival continues to champion cutting-edge global animation, from studio tentpoles to indie darlings. Jamie Lang, Variety, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tentpole

Word History

First Known Use

1987, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tentpole was in 1987

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Cite this Entry

“Tentpole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tentpole. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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