mime

1 of 3

noun

ˈmīm 

 also  ˈmēm

1

: an ancient dramatic entertainment representing scenes from life usually in a ridiculous manner

2

a

: an actor in a mime

b

: one that practices mime

3

: mimic sense 2

4

: pantomime sense 3

mime

2 of 3

verb

mimed; miming

intransitive verb

: to act a part with mimic gesture and action usually without words

transitive verb

1

: mimic

2

: to act out in the manner of a mime

mimer noun

MIME

3 of 3

abbreviation

multipurpose Internet mail extensions

Synonyms

Noun

• mimic
• mummer
• pantomime
• pantomimist

Verb

• ape
• copy
• copycat
• emulate
• imitate
• mimic

Examples of mime in a Sentence

Noun

an actor with a gift for mime

a performance done in mime

an actor who is a talented mime

Verb

He mimed playing a guitar.

She mimed picking up the phone and dialing a number.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My training really was coming up out of underground theater companies in New York in the early ’70s, then studying mime with Étienne. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2024

Even went so far at worlds last year as to mime removing a crown from her head and placing it on Andrade’s. —Kevin Sherrington, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Aug. 2024

Verb

One video, taken by a migrant trapped inside the hotel and shared by a journalist at The Times, shows a rioter miming the cutting of a neck. —Armani Syed/london, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024

The party moved to Lee’s TikTok soon afterwards, where the fantastic five flexed by miming along to Ye’s infamous 2005 Grammy Awards speech for his best rap album-winning opus, The College Dropout. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin mimus, from Greek mimos

First Known Use

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1728, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

mime

1 of 2 noun

ˈmīm 

ˈmēm

1

a

: an actor in a mime

b

: a person who practices mime

2

: mimic sense 2

3

: an ancient play or skit representing scenes from life usually in a ridiculous manner

4

: the art of showing a character or telling a story by body movements

mime

2 of 2 verb

mimed; miming

1

: to act in a mime

2

: to imitate closely : mimic

3

: to act out in the manner of a mime