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

• cinema
• film
• filmdom
• filmland
• filmmaking
• movie
• moviemaking
• pictures
• screen
• silver screen

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

All four titles will receive theatrical releases across multiple European territories, signaling the distributor’s confidence in the big-screen appeal of anime content. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 June 2025

Keeping snacks in mind for the occasion, themed movie night gift sets like this can go a long way when indulging in big-screen entertainment at home. —Devonne Goode, Parents, 6 June 2025

Noun

The film marked Williams' big screen debut following his breakout role as Mork on Happy Days and its hit spinoff, Mork & Mindy. —Emlyn Travis Published, EW.com, 27 May 2025

She was broadcast on the arena's big screen for the whole crowd to see. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 25 May 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