What does megahit mean?
A megahit is a song, film, book, product, or other work that becomes exceptionally popular and successful, often across several countries and at the same time. The word is more emphatic than the general term “hit,” suggesting unusually broad public attention, strong commercial performance, or both. It is especially common in entertainment journalism and promotional language, as in references to a “worldwide megahit,” a “megahit single,” or a “box-office megahit.” Although it can describe a major success in almost any creative field, the term is most strongly associated with popular music and film. Megahit generally has a positive connotation, emphasizing popularity and cultural impact rather than merely commercial success. It is also used more broadly for products or ideas that achieve unexpectedly wide attention, but such uses can sound informal or hyperbolic outside the entertainment industry.
nounA song, film, book, product, or other creative work that achieves exceptionally widespread popularity or commercial success. The term is mainly informal and often implies success on a large international scale.
- An exceptionally successful and widely popular song, film, book, product, or other work.
- A creative work that achieves unusually high sales, chart performance, attendance, or audience reach.
"Her debut single became an unexpected megahit, topping charts across Europe and North America."
"The animated feature became a family megahit within weeks of its release."
"Independent musicians sometimes use social media to turn a promising track into a megahit."
"The novel was a modest bestseller before its film adaptation became a worldwide megahit."
The plural is formed by adding -s.
"Several of the band's early recordings became international megahits."
A megahit does more than sell well—it becomes a shared piece of popular culture heard, watched, or discussed around the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does megahit come from?
The word was coined in the 1980s by combining the combining form “mega-,” meaning “very large” or “exceptionally great,” with “hit,” a word for a work that achieves widespread popularity. Its formation follows the pattern of other compounds using “mega-” to signify exceptional scale, including words such as megaphone, megabyte, and megastar. The combination “megahit” subsequently developed a broader use for successes in entertainment, publishing, and consumer markets.
Related word forms
How megahit is actually used
Primarily informal. It is more emphatic than “hit” and usually suggests exceptional success, although it is also used in promotional writing to describe major commercial achievements.