1
: one of the subdivisions of a play: such as
a
: a division of an act presenting continuous action in one place
b
: a single situation or unit of dialogue in a play
the love scene
c
: a movie or television episode or sequence
2
a
: a stage setting
b
: a real or imaginary prospect suggesting a stage setting
a sylvan scene
3
: the place of an occurrence or action : locale
scene of the crime
4
: an exhibition of anger or indecorous behavior
He has stolen her salad, but she's too well-mannered to make a scene. [=act in a disruptive way]—
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby5
a
: sphere of activity
the drug scene
b
: situation
a bad scene
see also:
Examples of scene in a Sentence
The play's opening scene takes place in the courtyard.
The actor was nervous about his big scene.
Police are now at the scene.
Recent Examples on the Web
One of the most common explanations for this (and for the University City restaurant scene’s shortcomings in general) has to do with how dining districts tend to develop in the first place.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Air traffic controllers are tasked with making sure that planes and firefighting rigs share the space safely, using different radio frequencies to communicate with pilots landing the planes and firefighters responding to the scene to help, McCloskey said.
—Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
In January, Mashhad was the scene of immense anti-regime protests.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
By 1963, several other oil companies had entered the scene, including American giants Mobil Oil, Texaco, American Petroleum, and Chevron, as well as ELF from France, and Italy’s Agip Oil.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scene
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Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026
Air traffic controllers are tasked with making sure that planes and firefighting rigs share the space safely, using different radio frequencies to communicate with pilots landing the planes and firefighters responding to the scene to help, McCloskey said.
—Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
In January, Mashhad was the scene of immense anti-regime protests.
—Jason Rezaian, New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2026
By 1963, several other oil companies had entered the scene, including American giants Mobil Oil, Texaco, American Petroleum, and Chevron, as well as ELF from France, and Italy’s Agip Oil.
—Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scene
Cite this Entry
“Scene.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scene. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scene
noun1
a
: a division of an act during which there is no change of scene or break in time
b
: a single situation or conversation in a play
the love scene
c
: a small part of a motion picture or a television program
2
a
: a stage setting
change scenes
b
: a view or sight that looks like a picture
a winter scene
3
: the place of an event or action : locale
the scene of the crime
4
: a display of anger or misconduct
made a scene when accused of the crime
5
a
: area of activity
the music scene
b
: situation sense 3
the scene got serious when the police arrived
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