has-been

noun

ˈhaz-ˌbin How to pronounce has-been (audio)
-ˌben
chiefly British -ˌbēn
Synonyms of has-beennext
: one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity
a washed-up has-been
—often used before another noun
a has-been Hollywood actor

Synonyms of has-been

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Examples of has-been in a Sentence

now a has-been, the actor's been reduced to appearing on a third-rate reality show
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.
Brett Goldstein’s seething has-been, Roy Kent, has replaced Ted as the men’s coach; Beard (co-creator Brendan Hunt) stuck around to assist Roy but has gone feral in the absence of his professional soulmate. — Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2026 In the Seventies, he was mocked as a Vegas has-been in a jumpsuit; in the Eighties, as a cultural colonizer. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 19 Feb. 2026 Ken Blake Brea Sorry to see Jerry Neuheisel leave UCLA to join traitor and coaching has-been Chip Kelly at Northwestern. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026 All this success begs the legitimate question of how the once-struggling reality show for has-been celebrities reinvented itself and became a pop-cultural phenomenon that any public figure would be lucky to utilize as their re-introduction into the zeitgeist. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for has-been

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of has-been was in 1606

Rhymes for has-been

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Browse Nearby Words

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has-been
haschisch
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Cite this Entry

“Has-been.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/has-been. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

has-been

noun
ˈhaz-ˌbin
: one that has passed the peak of ability, power, or popularity

More from Merriam-Webster on has-been

Nglish: Translation of has-been for Spanish Speakers

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