smash

noun

Smash — a success so conspicuous and forceful it announces itself instantly

Definition

A conspicuous success; "that song was his first hit and marked the beginning of his career"; "that new Broadway show is a real smasher"; "the party went with a bang"

In depth

A smash is a conspicuous success, an achievement so immediately and undeniably successful that it announces itself without need for further explanation or qualification. The word, related closely to 'smash hit,' can stand alone to describe any work, performance, or undertaking whose success was both significant and unmistakably evident.

Origin

The word's likely imitative origin, suggesting the sound and force of a violent collision, gives the standalone noun the same vivid energy carried by 'smash hit,' the success described as arriving with sudden, undeniable, almost physical impact rather than gradual, quiet accumulation.

Usage examples

"That song was his first hit, and it marked the beginning of a career defined by one smash after another."

"The play was an instant smash, extending its run three separate times to meet overwhelming demand."

"Her debut novel proved a smash, propelling her almost overnight from obscurity into literary prominence."

How to use it

Smash is informal, energetic vocabulary common in entertainment journalism, useful as a standalone noun for conspicuous, undeniable success, carrying the same forceful, collision-based imagery as its fuller form 'smash hit.'