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 of amphitheater

• auditorium

Examples of amphitheater in a Sentence

the conference attendees crowded into the amphitheater for the keynote address

Recent Examples on the Web

The rolling property, linked by meandering paths that wind through a redwood grove and pass under a bridge, includes an two-story guesthouse, an executive-length golf course, a 150-seat amphitheater, and a huge lawn for staging events. —Mark David, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2025

Winter is typically considered the off-season for outdoor venues like Cary's amphitheater, so the community jumped at the chance to have a flurry of activity during the colder months. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025

Lower Greeter Falls is the showstopper, however, as the river drops 50 vertical feet into a sandstone amphitheater. —Graham Averill, Outside, 20 Nov. 2025

In all, Live Nation and Mystic Lake expect the amphitheater to create 700 permanent jobs and have an annual economic impact of more than $130 million. —Riley Moser, CBS News, 17 Nov. 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