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

• auditorium

Examples of amphitheater in a Sentence

the conference attendees crowded into the amphitheater for the keynote address

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s an island tour on a double-decker bus every Wednesday, movie nights at the impressive amphitheater every Friday and options for hikes, cave exploration and flora-and-fauna tours. —Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

The Disneyland Resort is again sponsoring the summer entertainment series at the Pearson Park amphitheater on Harbor Boulevard. —Andrea Manes, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2025

Marshmello, The All-American Rejects and Boys Like Girls will join Jonas Brothers on different dates throughout their tour, which plays amphitheaters, arenas and a handful of stadiums through mid-November. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2025

Neapolis Archeological Park is full of ancient wonders, including a Greek theater dating back to the third century B.C.E., a Roman amphitheater, and the Ear of Dionysius, a massive limestone cave carved into the hill. —Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 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