Definitions

has-been

[haz-bin] / ˈhæzˌbɪn /

ADJECTIVE

behind the times

Synonyms

WEAK

antiquated back number dated obsolete of the old school old hat old-fashioned out-of-date outdated outmoded passé square unfashionable

ADJECTIVE

obsolete

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiquated archaic out-of-date outmoded

WEAK

anachronistic ancient antediluvian antique bygone dated dead dead and gone dinosaur discarded disused done for dusty extinct fossil gone had it horse and buggy kaput moldy moth-eaten old old-fashioned old-hat old-school out out-of-fashion outworn passé stale superannuated superseded timeworn unfashionable

Antonyms

STRONGEST

current modern new

WEAK

contemporary in vogue present up-to-date

ADJECTIVE

old hat

Synonyms

WEAK

back number behind the times dated old-fashioned old-school outmoded

Antonyms

WEAK

up-to-date

ADJECTIVE

outdated

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiquated archaic obsolete old out-of-date outmoded

WEAK

anachronous antique back number dated démodé moth-eaten old hat out out of style passé square tired unfashionable vintage

Antonyms

STRONGEST

contemporary current modern new present recent up-to-date young

ADJECTIVE

outdated/out-of-date

Synonyms

WEAK

anachronous antiquated antique archaic back number behind the times dated dusty démodé moth-eaten musty not with it obsolete old old-hat out out of style outmoded passé square tired unfashionable vintage

Antonyms

WEAK

current fashionable modern new popular up-to-date

ADJECTIVE

outmoded

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiquated archaic obsolete out-of-date

STRONG

antique bent dated fossilized out outworn superannuated superseded tired

WEAK

anachronistic antediluvian behind the times bygone dead dinosaur disused démodé extinct horse and buggy moldy moth-eaten musty obsolescent old-hat old-time olden out of style passé unfashionable unstylish unusable vintage

Antonyms

STRONGEST

current modern new present

STRONG

fresh

WEAK

newfangled popular up-to-date

ADJECTIVE

passé

Synonyms

STRONGEST

antiquated dated

STRONG

disused démodé obsolete out-of-date outdated outmoded outworn

WEAK

belated dead extinct superseded unfashionable yesterday

Antonyms

WEAK

current fashionable in in vogue modern new

NOUN

failure

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disappointment

STRONG

also-ran bankrupt bum castaway deadbeat defaulter derelict dud flop good-for-nothing incompetent insolvent loafer loser might-have-been moocher nobody prodigal turkey underachiever washout

WEAK

born loser lumpy no-good nonperformer

Antonyms

STRONG

hard worker success

WEAK

accomplishment achievement achiever attainment earnings gain merit win

NOUN

loser

Synonyms

STRONGEST

also-ran underdog

STRONG

deadbeat defeated dud failure flop

WEAK

disadvantaged down-and-outer flunkee underprivileged

Antonyms

STRONG

success

WEAK

achiever winner

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For those who think of late-career Elvis Presley as only a plump has-been, a gaudy Las Vegas crooner slinging schlock in the 1970s, Baz Luhrmann’s new movie is a bracing corrective.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

But what if you’d taken this role about a Hollywood has-been and the show flopped?

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

Fearing he’s a has-been, the diminutive, balding Hart slowly succumbs to self-loathing.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025

Among other things, he has called you a fraudster and a failed political has-been, but you’re not responding in kind.

From Slate • Oct. 15, 2025

“I mean, I might not even be at Hogwarts next year, what’s it matter to me if some fat old has-been likes me or not?”

From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling

has-been

Example Sentences

Related Words