rockstar

plural rockstars · alternative rock star

1. A member of a rock band, or a solo artist in the genre, especially one with celebrity status.

   By 1967, Jimi Hendrix had become a rockstar.

2. attributivefigurativelysometimesA person who is renowned or revered in his or her field of accomplishment.

   Near-synonyms: superstar, all-star, star

   5 more examples

   By 1985, Michael Jordan had become a rockstar of the NBA.

   2008: Fareed Zakaria, The Post-American World, Chapter VII Eventually Clinton relented and went to India in March 2000. He spent five days in the country, visited famous sights, put on traditional clothes, and took part in dances and ceremonies. He communicated the message that he enjoyed and admired India as a country and civilization. The result was a transformation. Clinton is a rock star in India.

   Science has long had an image problem but Dr Cox—also known as the rockstar physicist—has done the unthinkable and made particle physics cool.

   2010 April 25, “The IoS Happy List 2010”, in The Independent, UK, archived from the original on 31 Jan 2018, retrieved 24 May 2014

   Christie has managed to become a rockstar among conservatives nationally while pursuing an agenda that is in many ways moderate.

   2012 March 30, “The Three Reasons Romney Needs Chris Christie On His Ticket”, in Forbes, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2013, retrieved 24 May 2014

   Tony Hsieh is a rockstar software developer who's turning his attention to urban regeneration in Las Vegas.

   2013 March 24, Rory Carroll, “Downtown Las Vegas may have found what it's looking for”, in The Guardian, UK, archived from the original on 01 Aug 2018, retrieved 24 May 2014

   Synonyms: superstar, all-star, star

3. figurativelySomeone who works hard, achieves wins, or both; used in expressions of gratitude.

   Near-synonyms: superstar, all-star, star

   3 more examples

   Congratulations to Ashley, who once again proved that she is a rockstar by rescuing a key account from the threat of nonrenewal.

   We end with a specific exercise where we distribute a small poster with about 10 tear-off sections that say simple things like “great job,” “you're a rockstar,” etc.

   2021 March 9, Eric Karpinski, Put Happiness to Work: 7 Strategies to Elevate Engagement for Optimal Performance, McGraw Hill Professional, →ISBN, page 41

   JULIE: I put my blood, sweat and tears into this project. MARCUS: You're a rockstar.

   2023, Tim Robinson, I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson, season 3, episode 2

   Synonyms: superstar, all-star, star

4. attributivefigurativelysometimesAny animal, plant, or other thing that is renowned amongst others of its type.

   Near-synonyms: superstar, all-star, star

   2 more examples

   Many birds can sing beautifully, and various birds can mimic sounds that they hear, but lyrebirds are rockstars of mimickry in the bird world.

   Owls are rockstars among raptors in the respect that they hunt amazingly well while also doing it under pitch-dark conditions and silently.

   Synonyms: superstar, all-star, star