View synonyms for

has-been

[haz-bin]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person or thing that is no longer effective, successful, popular, etc.

has-been

noun

informal��a person or thing that is no longer popular, successful, effective, etc

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Word History and Origins

Origin of has-been¹

First recorded in 1600–10

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The former president and California governor was a Hollywood has-been until Spencer came along and turned him into something compelling and new, something they called a “citizen-politician.”

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The actor is also known for playing a meta-version of himself in “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23,” where he’s a smarmy has-been nicknamed “The Beek From the Creek.”

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He depicted Trump as a has-been, his shtick grown old, and the annoying neighbor who constantly keeps his leaf blower running.

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First, has-been Korean American writer Soon Sheen now works for GLOAT, which uses algorithms to extract every last iota of information from customers.

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She descended into drug and alcohol abuse and, by 14, she was in rehab, considered a has-been in the industry.

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Related Words

antiquated��
archaic��
obsolete��
old��
out-of-date��
outmoded��

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When To Use

�� does��has-been mean?

Has-been is a negative term for a person who is considered to have lost or to be far removed from the success, popularity, or skill that they once had.Has-been is used as an insult. It’s most often applied to famous people, such as athletes and actors—to be called a has-been, a person has to have been known for having an outstanding quality.Another insulting term based on has-been is never-was, which is intended to suggest that a person was never known for having any outstanding qualities. It’s typically used in conjunction with has-been to insult someone in an even worse way, as in You’re not even a has-been—you’re a never-was! Another less-common term formed in the same way is could-have-been, referring to a person who never became successful but could have. This can be an insult or a compliment, depending on how it’s used.Example: I don’t need advice from some has-been—I want to learn from someone who’s been able to stay in the game.

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