movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

plural movies

1

: a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch (as in a theater or on the screen of a television or mobile device) : motion picture sense 2a

watched a movie after dinner

a movie about the Civil War

an action movie

especially : a feature-length film shown in a movie theater

2

the movies : 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

the movies : the business of making movies : the medium or industry of film

Synonyms of movie

• film
• documentary

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies.

a career in the movies

Recent Examples on the Web

Mallory Menacker asked, referencing the 1992 movie in which a bunch of misfit kids go from hockey novices to improbable winners. —Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026

Having knowledge of fostering and violence towards children [my wife was once a communications director with the National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children], the movie struck a chord; I was totally captivated by it. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 24 May 2026

The technology sounds like something from a science-fiction movie, yet several Chinese manufacturers have already put it into production. —Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026

If these YouTube creators can bring the audience from their laptop to the movie theater, that’s huge. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 24 May 2026

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