Humdinger Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms humdinger American [huhm-ding-er] / ˈhʌmˈdɪŋ ər /

noun

Informal.

1. a person, thing, action, or statement of remarkable excellence or effect.

humdinger British / ˈhʌmˌdɪŋə /

noun

1. something unusually large

   a humdinger of a recession

2. an excellent person or thing

   a humdinger of a party

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of humdinger

First recorded in 1900–05; of uncertain origin; perhaps from hum + ding 1 + -er 1

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.

It is a win that sets up a humdinger of a match with Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday.

From BBC

It’s a dazzling and rambunctious crime movie, with a humdinger of an ending.

From New York Times

Of course, it'll be a real humdinger if he's able to win two consecutive seasons and his talent stands for itself, but it sometimes feels like his dominance is . . . dry?

From Salon

The first episode of the third season of “Ted Lasso” — and I’m trying to summon my own inner Ted here — is a humdinger.

From New York Times

"Sometimes I take a deep breath because I know this one will be a humdinger, but that also energizes me."

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.