plural films
often attributive
1
a
: a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b
: an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2
: a thin covering or coating
a film of ice
3
a
: an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b(1)
: a thin flexible transparent sheet (as of plastic) used especially as a wrapping
(2)
: a thin sheet of cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs
4
a
: movie sense 1, motion picture
an award-winning film
film critics
The film will start in ten minutes.
b
: the process, art, or business of making movies : cinema sense 3, the movies
a career in film
She studied film in college.
filmed; filming; films
1
: to cover with or as if with a film
2
: to make a video recording of or from
film a scene
1
: to become covered or obscured with or as if with a film
2
: to make a video or movie
spent the afternoon filming in the park
They begin filming next week.
Examples of film in a Sentence
Noun
Have you bought any film for the camera?
We haven't had the film developed yet.
He's interested in making films about war.
We'll start the film at 10:00.
He studied film in college.
the protective film over a shark's eye
A film of ice covered the sidewalk.
Verb
Television news crew members came to film the interview.
She filmed the children playing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Based on Amanda Brown’s novel and the 2001 film, the show follows a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
That storm late Thursday, among the first outbreaks of severe weather on the verge of the spring storm season, was filmed by a camera mounted on the deputy’s car.
—Kathy McCormack, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for film
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The film was a commercial hit and solidified Universal Pictures’ reputation as the home of horror.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Based on Amanda Brown’s novel and the 2001 film, the show follows a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
The male actors’ locks took quite a beating during filming.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
That storm late Thursday, among the first outbreaks of severe weather on the verge of the spring storm season, was filmed by a camera mounted on the deputy’s car.
—Kathy McCormack, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for film
Cite this Entry
“Film.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/film. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
film
1 of 2 noun1
: a thin skin or membrane
2
: a thin coating or layer
3
: a roll or strip of thin flexible transparent material coated with a chemical substance sensitive to light and used in taking pictures
4
film
2 of 2 verb1
: to cover or become covered with film
2
: to make a motion picture of or from
Medical Definition
film
noun1
a
: a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b
: an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2
a
: an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b
: a thin flexible transparent sheet of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs or making radiographs
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