movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē How to pronounce movie (audio)
1
: a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch on a screen or television : motion picture
watched a movie after dinner
a movie about the Civil War
an action movie
2
movies plural : a showing of a motion picture especially in a theater
went to the movies last Friday
also : a theater that shows movies
What's playing at the movies?
3
movies plural : the business of making movies : the motion-picture medium or industry

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies. a career in the movies
Recent Examples on the Web When the lead actor of their movie goes missing, Gosling’s stuntman steps up to try and find him. Zack Sharf, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 The next time someone tells you that Hollywood is only interested in making superhero movies, hit them with this list of books. Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 The best friends of Pamela Adlon’s charming feature Babes meet on that day every year to watch a movie. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 To see free first-run movies, sign up with Gofobo or check out Advance Screenings, says filmmaker Neil Chase. Laura Daily, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Where to watch The Wolf of Wall Street: Paramount+ Want more movie news? Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024 The remarks triggered a backlash, with critics likening the pictures to a dystopian science fiction movie. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Jake Gyllenhaal is the type of movie star who tends toward two speeds: leading man with haunted look and solid jaw, and wonderfully self-conscious eccentric. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 There are movie stars who can act, and those who can’t. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'movie.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

moving picture

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of movie was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near movie

Cite this Entry

“Movie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/movie. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

movie

noun
mov·​ie ˈmü-vē How to pronounce movie (audio)
1
2
a
: a story represented in motion pictures
b
pl : a showing of a movie
went to the movies yesterday
3
plural : the business of making movies : the motion-picture industry

More from Merriam-Webster on movie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!