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

Tickets for single shows are $68-$155 at The Conrad and $25-$250 for the amphitheater concert. —La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026

Sugarloaf Mountain and the surrounding coastline create a natural amphitheater around the city. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026

At the Irvine Bowl, the lawsuit argues, wheelchair-accessible spaces are clustered in only three areas of the steep hillside amphitheater, with one cluster completely segregated from the rest of the seating. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 June 2026

Plan your trip around the Athens Epidaurus Festival, celebrated each year from June through August, to catch musical performances, plays, and children's events in the ancient amphitheater. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026

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

• bolometer
• centimeter
• centimetre
• decimeter
• ergometer
• expositor
• gasometer
• gravimeter
• hexameter
• manometer
• milliliter
• millimeter

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