supernova
noun
Did you know?
A nova, despite its name, isn't actually a "new" star, but rather one that wasn't noticed until it exploded, when it may increase in brightness by a million times before returning to its previous state a few days later. A supernova is far larger; a star in its supernova state may emit a billion times as much light as previously. After a few weeks it begins to dim, until it eventually ceases to exist; it's often replaced by a black hole. (Though remains that were shot out into space may survive; those of a great supernova seen in A.D. 1054 are now known as the Crab Nebula.) All this may serve as a warning to those human stars whose fame explodes too rapidly; supernovas of this kind have sometimes vanished by the following year.
Examples of supernova in a Sentence
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Astronomers now think that this Ursa Major Arc may be a shock wave from an explosion or a supernova that happened over 100,000 years ago.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
McIlroy never seemed unnerved by the pressure of following the supernova that was Woods.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The most massive stars will die in a core-collapse supernova, often within merely a few million years after their birth.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for supernova
Cite this Entry
“Supernova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supernova. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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supernova
noun
