starring

1. 1
   verbtransitive

   Having a particular actor or actors, especially in lead roles, among the cast.

   The studio released a thriller starring two Oscar winners.

   Audiences flocked to the film starring a relative newcomer in the lead.

   Similarfeaturing, showcasing

   Note

   The credit-line use: Ben-Hur, starring Charlton Heston. The film or show is the subject and the performers follow directly, which is the transitive pattern of the participle. The phrase usually trails a title or noun after a comma and does the work of a clause like "which stars". It looks like the adjective in "a starring role", but that one sits before its noun and describes the part, not the cast.

2. 2
   adjective

   Acting as the star of a production; having the leading role.

   The young actress earned a starring role opposite a Hollywood legend.

   His starring turn in the drama won critical praise.

   Similarleading, lead, principal

   Oppositesupporting, minor

3. 3
   verb

   Present participle of star.

   He is currently starring in a stage revival on Broadway.

   The two leads are starring opposite each other again.

   Note

   The -ing form carries every use of the verb, and the verb runs in two directions. An actor is starring in a film (intransitive, with in), while a film is starring an actor (transitive, no preposition). Away from the stage, the same form means marking with an asterisk, as in starring the urgent items on a list, or setting something with bright points, bespangling it with stars.

   The new series is starring two complete unknowns.

   She was starring the overdue invoices in red ink.

4. 4
   noununcountable

   The act of featuring or performing as a star in a production.

   The starring of two unknowns in major parts was a bold choice by the director.

   Critics debated whether the starring of celebrities improved the film.

   Similarcasting

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