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 of big-screen

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

Gregory Maguire, who penned the original 1995 book on which both the popular Broadway-musical and big-screen films are based, revealed that his upcoming prequel, will focus on the early life of Galinda Upland, the character portrayed by Ariana Grande in the film adaptations. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

The 2013 Academy Award-winning film marked the actress' big-screen debut. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025

Noun

Over a decade after making her big screen debut and winning an Oscar for her role in 12 Years a Slave, Nyong'o is shedding some light on the roles that followed her breakthrough success. —Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025

Erivo also has several upcoming big screen roles in the works, including two movies expected to release in 2027. —Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 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