amphitheater

noun

am·​phi·​the·​ater ˈam(p)-fə-ˌthē(-ə)-tər 

 also  ˈam-pə-ˌthē-

1

: an oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats ranged about an open space and used in ancient Rome especially for contests and spectacles

2

a

: a very large auditorium

b

: a room with a gallery from which doctors and students may observe surgical operations

c

: a rising gallery in a modern theater

d

: a flat or gently sloping area surrounded by abrupt slopes

3

: a place of public entertainment (as for games or concerts)

amphitheatric

ˌam(p)-fə-thē-ˈa-trik 

 also  ˌam-pə-thē-

adjective

or amphitheatrical

ˌam(p)-fə-thē-ˈa-tri-kəl 

 also  ˌam-pə-thē-

amphitheatrically

ˌam(p)-fə-thē-ˈa-tri-k(ə-)lē 

 also  ˌam-pə-thē-

adverb

Synonyms

• arena
• auditorium
• garden
• hall
• theater
• theatre

Examples of amphitheater in a Sentence

the conference attendees crowded into the amphitheater for the keynote address

Recent Examples on the Web

Adventure intel: Trek through labyrinthine ice tunnels, strap on crampons, and use an ice pick to climb a sheer cliff face, or abseil down a 100-meter cliff surrounded by an incandescent blue amphitheater of ice. —Chloe Berge, Outside Online, 17 June 2025

Things to Do in Palo Duro Canyon Watch an Outdoor Musical This seasonal, family-friendly show runs from early June through early August in a natural amphitheater carved from and nestled into the canyon basin. —Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 13 June 2025

The new concert hubs — which will run the gamut from intimate clubs to large outdoor amphitheaters — are expected to open over the next 18 months and will cost $1 billion to build, according to Live Nation's press release. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 June 2025

Now in its 35th year, the Berea Craft Festival (July 11-13) brings together over 100 artists and craftspeople who display and sell their works at the Indian Fort Theater, a historic outdoor amphitheater in the Berea College Forest. —Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English amphitheatre, borrowed from Latin amphitheātrum, borrowed from Greek amphithéātron, noun derivative from neuter of amphithéātros "(of a stadium) having seats for spectators all around," from amphi- amphi- + -theātros, derivative of théātron "place for viewing a drama, theater entry 1"

Note: The term is also used in isolated, partially naturalized Old English attestations, as anfiteatrum and anfiteatra.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for amphitheater

• galvanometer
• submillimeter
• aliter
• ammeter
• completer
• demeter
• preheater
• repeater
• saltpetre
• ureter
• beater
• cheater

Kids Definition

amphitheater

noun

am·​phi·​the·​a·​ter

ˈam(p)-fə-ˌthē-ət-ər

1

: a building with seats rising in curved rows around an open space on which games and plays take place

2

: something (as a piece of level ground surrounded by hills) that resembles an amphitheater