movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

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

Synonyms

• film
• documentary

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies.

a career in the movies

Recent Examples on the Web

In any case, this costume would probably go over best with a crowd of theater kids and/or people who are annoying about movies, also known as the exact Venn Diagram that is the staff of Them dot us. —James Factora, Them., 17 Oct. 2025

Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street movies immediately comes to mind, as the Grabber can physically harm Gwen in her dreams. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025

The actress, who was also in the care of Karen Gillan in action movie Gunpowder Milkshake, is repped by Gersh, CESD, HillTop Entertainment and Jackoway Austen. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025

Here's a list of the 10 best new movies and shows to watch this weekend and where to stream them. —Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

moving picture

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing movie

• B movie
• home movie
• movie house

Rhymes for movie

• groovy

Kids Definition

movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

1

: motion picture sense 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