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.
There are a number of expensive tentpoles due out in the coming months that filmed overseas. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 4 May 2025 But among studios, there also have been concerns that Trump would try to impose restrictions on any filming overseas, as generous incentives in the UK, Canada and Australia have long lured Hollywood studio tentpole production. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 May 2025 Be sure to read my full assessment of the box office potential of the summer’s slate of tentpoles, and how Thunderbolts* factors into the summer and year-end math. Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025 Now entering its third year, the Fantastic Pavilion has grown from an upstart experiment into a tentpole fixture at Cannes, drawing over 2,600 visitors in 2024 alone. Jamie Lang, Variety, 2 May 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 15 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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