bestseller
gb/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/ us/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
book that sells extremely well
a book that many people buy
Usage pattern:
a bestseller; [book] becomes a bestseller
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse bestseller (a noun) with best-selling (an adjective: a best-selling book).
Synonyms
blockbuster (More informal and often used for movies as well as books.)
|
hit (Very common but less specific about sales figures.)
Antonyms
flop (Something that fails commercially.)
|
poor seller (A product that does not sell well.)
Collocations
instant bestseller
|international bestseller
|runaway bestseller
|bestseller list
|bestseller status
|debut bestseller
|top bestseller
|a surprise bestseller
|a bestselling author
|a bestselling novel
Themes
publishing
|media
|books
|business
Examples
- Her first novel became a bestseller within a month of publication.
- The memoir stayed a bestseller for weeks after the interview aired.
- The publisher hoped the new thriller would be the next big bestseller.
Learner examples
- This book is a bestseller.
- He wrote a bestseller last year.
Noun
business
B2
entity
2
product that sells extremely well
a product that many people buy
Usage pattern:
a bestseller; [product] is a bestseller
Common mistake:
In everyday conversation, bestseller most often refers to books; for other products it’s more common in marketing or business contexts.
Synonyms
top seller (More neutral and common in retail reporting.)
|
best-seller (Same meaning; hyphenated spelling is also used.)
Antonyms
slow seller (A product that sells gradually or in small numbers.)
|
dud (Informal term for something unsuccessful.)
Collocations
company bestseller
|store bestseller
|a consistent bestseller
|seasonal bestseller
|bestseller product
|best-selling model
|top-selling item
|bestseller range
|bestseller line
|bestseller SKU
Themes
business
|retail
|marketing
Examples
- That blender is one of the store’s bestsellers this year.
- The brand’s bestselling shampoo has been reformulated.
- The company promoted the phone case as a bestseller in its category.
Learner examples
- This product is a bestseller in our shop.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bestseller
IPA
GB/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
US/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
Syllables & stress
best - seller (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (best)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bestseller
- Plural: bestsellers
Word family
Expressions
#1 bestseller
1/ bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
fixed phrase
business
top-ranked best-selling title
the best-selling book on a list
Examples
- The thriller became a #1 bestseller within days.
- They promoted the guide as a #1 bestseller in its category.
- Her latest release is a #1 bestseller in several countries.
bestseller list
1/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ lˈɪst/
fixed phrase
ranked list of top-selling books
a list of the books that sold the most
Examples
- The novel debuted at number two on the bestseller list.
- Her cookbook climbed the bestseller list after the TV appearance.
- The publisher was aiming for a spot on the bestseller list.
bestseller status
1/bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ stˈætəs/
fixed phrase
recognition as a bestseller
the state of being a bestseller
Examples
- The author finally achieved bestseller status with her third book.
- The TV adaptation boosted the novel to bestseller status.
- A strong launch can help a title reach bestseller status quickly.
hit the bestseller list
1/hˈɪt ðə bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ lˈɪst/
fixed phrase
enter the top-selling rankings
to become one of the top-selling books
Examples
- Her debut novel hit the bestseller list in its first week.
- The biography hit the bestseller list after the award announcement.
- If the campaign works, the title could hit the bestseller list by summer.
instant bestseller
1/ˈɪnstənt bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
fixed phrase
bestseller very soon after release
a book that becomes very popular very fast
Examples
- The long-awaited sequel was an instant bestseller.
- Strong preorders helped make it an instant bestseller.
- Reviewers expected the title to be an instant bestseller.
international bestseller
1/ˌɪntɚnˈæʃənəl bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
fixed phrase
bestseller in multiple countries
a book that sells very well in many countries
Examples
- The crime novel became an international bestseller after it was translated.
- She is known for writing international bestsellers.
- The publisher positioned the book as a future international bestseller.
new york times bestseller
1/njˈu jˈɔɹk tˈaɪmz bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ/
fixed phrase
business
book on NYT bestseller list
a book that is on a famous US bestseller list
Examples
- The cover calls it a New York Times bestseller.
- She is a New York Times bestselling author.
- Several New York Times bestsellers were released this month.
on the bestseller list
1/ˈɔn ðə bˈɛstsˈɛlɚ lˈɪst/
fixed phrase
ranked among top-selling books
to be one of the top-selling books
Examples
- The book stayed on the bestseller list for ten weeks.
- She was thrilled to see her name on the bestseller list.
- Only a few titles remain on the bestseller list for long.