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
• flick
• flicker
• motion picture
• moving picture
• picture

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies.

a career in the movies

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, passengers can enjoy shows and movies from their favorite streaming platforms by downloading content to watch anytime, anywhere. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 3 May 2025

Created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield — all 30 Rock alums — the series riffs on the 1981 movie of the same name. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 May 2025

How is the Thunderbolts* stacking up against other Marvel movies? —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 3 May 2025

For Mason, starring in a movie centered around the Derby seemed like a perfect match for her. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 3 May 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