co-star: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to informal, commonly used in entertainment journalism and everyday conversation about media.
Quick answer
What does “co-star” mean?
A fellow leading actor who shares top billing or a prominent role with another actor in a film, play, or television show.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fellow leading actor who shares top billing or a prominent role with another actor in a film, play, or television show.
A secondary but prominent performer or element featured alongside the primary subject; also used as a verb meaning to perform as a co-star.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spacing: 'co-star' (with hyphen) is standard in both, though 'costar' is increasingly common, especially in American media. The word functions identically in meaning and usage.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in British publications; American usage is more fluid regarding hyphenation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties due to global nature of entertainment industry.
Grammar
How to Use “co-star” in a Sentence
to co-star WITH [person] IN [production]to co-star AS [character]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “co-star” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She is set to co-star with him in the new period drama.
- They co-starred in a popular sitcom during the nineties.
American English
- He'll co-star alongside her in the upcoming action movie.
- They costarred in a Broadway revival last season.
adverb
British English
- This usage is not standard for 'co-star'.
American English
- This usage is not standard for 'co-star'.
adjective
British English
- He had a co-star role in the West End production.
- The co-star billing was agreed in her contract.
American English
- She landed a co-star part in the Netflix series.
- His co-star status meant his name appeared second on the poster.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in entertainment business reports discussing cast dynamics or marketing.
Academic
Used in film, media, or cultural studies when analysing performances or star power.
Everyday
Common in conversations about films, TV shows, and celebrity gossip.
Technical
Used in casting, film credits, and industry contracts to denote billing status.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “co-star”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “co-star”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “co-star”
- Using 'co-star' to refer to any actor in a film (it implies prominence).
- Misspelling as 'co star' (open) or 'costar' (closed – increasingly accepted but hyphenated is standard).
- Incorrect preposition: 'He co-starred *on* the film' (correct: *in* the film).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common in film/TV/theatre, it can be used metaphorically for any paired prominence (e.g., 'The two desserts were the co-stars of the meal').
A 'co-star' implies shared top billing and often comparable importance to the main star. A 'supporting actor' has a significant but secondary role that supports the lead(s).
Yes, commonly. E.g., 'She will co-star in the new series.' The past tense is 'co-starred'.
The hyphenated form ('co-star') is still considered the standard in formal writing, though the closed form ('costar') is increasingly common, especially in American English. Both are generally understood.
A fellow leading actor who shares top billing or a prominent role with another actor in a film, play, or television show.
Co-star is usually neutral to informal, commonly used in entertainment journalism and everyday conversation about media. in register.
Co-star: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊ stɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊ stɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Steal the scene from one's co-star”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CO-' meaning 'together' + 'STAR' – a star you share the spotlight WITH.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERFORMANCE IS A PARTNERSHIP (co-starring implies a collaborative, shared endeavour).
Practice
Quiz
What does the term 'co-star' primarily imply about an actor's role?