Standard Lemma guide

costar

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈkəʊstɑː(ɹ)/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K OW1 S T AA0 R Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who shares star billing with another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: acting, broadcasting, entertainment, film, lifestyle, media, television, theater

Examples

  • The once famous actor objected to his costar having a bigger dressing room.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person who slightly lacks the status to be considered a star.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: acting, broadcasting, entertainment, film, lifestyle, media, television, theater

Examples

  • Alas, always a costar but never a star.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To perform with the billing of a costar.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • People thought his career was over but now he will get to costar on Broadway next month.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To feature (a number of star performers) jointly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Latin co-der. English co- Proto-Indo-European *h2eHs- Proto-Indo-European *-tḗr Proto-Indo-European *h2stḗr Proto-Germanic *sternǭ Proto-West Germanic *sternō Proto-West Germanic *sterrō Old English steorra Middle English sterre English star English costar From co- + star.