big-screen

1 of 2

adjective

ˈbig-ˌskrēn 

1

: relating to movies or to the movie industry

She worked on the novel's big-screen adaptation.

Big-screen villains that resemble America's real-world enemies are as old as the movies themselves.

—Vanity Fair

2

: having a large screen

a big-screen television

And in my experience testing big-screen phones …, it really is far more difficult to do anything on them one-handed, including typing.

—John Gruber

big screen

2 of 2

noun

: the movie medium often as contrasted to television

a story adapted for the big screen

Synonyms

Noun

• film
• movie
• filmmaking
• silver screen
• pictures

Examples of big-screen in a Sentence

Noun

many actors now take roles for both television and the big screen

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Still, its music, cinematography, costumes, and production design all deserve attention, as does Seyfried, who has always been excellent, but here finally gets a big-screen leading role worthy of her talent. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2025

Despite some big-screen promotion and winning over the likes of Steve Jobs, the Z8 never sold in high numbers, with only some 5,700 examples rolling off the line. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2025

Noun

His most recent big screen credit is Ari Aster’s Eddington, which debuted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025

Get Smart got a big screen remake, starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, in 2008, with Bill Murray in the role of the beloved Agent 13. —EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for big-screen

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

Kids Definition

big screen

noun

: the motion-picture medium as contrasted to television