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

Original cast says no thanks Over the years, Lynn’s script has been turned into a stage play that tours the country, and Ryan Reynolds had been developing a big-screen remake. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025

The actor was 12 years old when his big-screen breakout movie, 2002's About a Boy, was released. —Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Noun

Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah's big screen debut isn't happening quite yet. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025

In our review of the Acer Chromebook 315, we were impressed by its surprisingly big screen and solid port selection. —PC Magazine, 30 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