debut

1 of 2

noun

de·​but ˈdā-ˌbyü How to pronounce debut (audio)
dā-ˈbyü
variants or less commonly début
1
: a first appearance
made her singing debut
the writer's debut novel
2
: a formal entrance into society
in honor of their daughter's debut

debut

2 of 2

verb

debuted; debuting; debuts

intransitive verb

: to make a first appearance or a formal entrance into society : to make a debut

transitive verb

: to present to the public for the first time : introduce
debut a new product

Examples of debut in a Sentence

Noun my debut as a pianist He made his singing debut at a very young age. She is making her television debut. Verb The singer debuted 10 years ago, at the age of 15. The car debuted 30 years ago. The computer will soon be debuting in stores across the country. The network debuts a new sitcom tonight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The track, released on Atlantic Records, starts as the week’s top-selling song for the genre and the week’s highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100, at No. 38. Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 13 Mar. 2024 More than a year after his unplanned retirement, Colt gets a call from Gail (Hannah Waddingham), a producer who is helping Jody direct her feature debut. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2024 Kelly Marcel will make her feature directorial debut with the project. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 This is the same hollow anti-patriotism that ruined Dunkirk (the only Nolan film set in his native country since his debut, Following). Armond White, National Review, 13 Mar. 2024 The earliest songs come from the band’s debut EP, Slay Tracks, released via Treble Kicker in 1989. Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2024 Williamson made his directorial debut in 1999 with Teaching Mrs. Tingle. Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Similar to her debut, her second album cover showed Blige’s profile slightly hidden by a leather newsboy hat, with her cheeks and lips more pronounced. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 12 Mar. 2024 In fact, his goal with his directorial debut is not to beat action moviemakers and A-list asskickers at their own game but to work his way into their ranks. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024
Verb
Korea, director Bong’s mother country, was our first choice in terms of where to debut the film. Patrick Frater, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 At Thursday’s Netflix event, Cumberbatch was asked what topics the six-episode Eric, set to debut on the streamer later this year, tackles. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 In conjunction with that transformation, the hotel will be debuting a huge 42-seat deck running the length of the yet-to-open Brewery X pub adjoining the lobby that will look out onto the pool and marina. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 After the Civil War, stamps were still relatively new, having debuted just two decades earlier. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 13 Mar. 2024 The label celebrated its 30th birthday by launching a traveling exhibit that debuted in early December at the Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys (and will be at both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas later this year). Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The first Caribbean property in the Edition hotel portfolio (a partnership between hotelier Ian Schrager and Marriott International), The Rivera Maya Edition is located on a 620-acre nature preserve next to the St. Regis Kanai Resort, another Marriott property that debuted in March 2023. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2024 Netflix debuts its episodes in batches, unlike its scripted series, and this week brought new episodes where viewers got to see which couples are still making it through the process. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Smoke ‘n Magic, which has been serving barbecue in Concourse B since the new airport debuted last year, has departed its 8,000-square-foot space. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French début, from débuter to begin, from Middle French desbuter to play first, from des- de- + but starting point, goal — more at butt entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1830, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of debut was in 1751

Dictionary Entries Near debut

Cite this Entry

“Debut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debut. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

debut

1 of 2 noun
1
: a first public appearance
my debut as a pianist
2
: a formal entrance into society

debut

2 of 2 verb
1
: to make a debut
2
: to present to society for the first time
debut a new product

More from Merriam-Webster on debut

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!