drama

noun

dra·​ma ˈdrä-mə  ˈdra- 

1

a

literature : a composition (see composition sense 5a) in verse or prose intended to portray life or character or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue and typically designed for theatrical performance : play compare closet drama

b

: a movie or television production with characteristics (such as conflict) of a serious play

broadly : a play, movie, or television production with a serious tone or subject

a police drama

2

literature : dramatic art, literature, or affairs

English drama

3

a

: a state, situation, or series of events involving interesting or intense conflict of forces

the drama of the past week

dealing with some family drama

b

: dramatic state, effect, or quality

the drama of the courtroom proceedings

Synonyms of drama

• theater
• stage
• production
• dramatics
• entertainment
• acting
• theatrics
• theatricals

Examples of drama in a Sentence

He is reading an ancient Greek drama.

I prefer drama to comedy.

His interest in drama began at a very young age.

She studied drama in college.

the dramas of teenage life

She watched the drama unfold as they began screaming at each other.

a competition full of drama

the drama of the courtroom proceedings

Recent Examples on the Web

After iftar, the evening meal that breaks their daytime fast, families gather to watch their picks from the year’s crop of soap operas and political and historical dramas, snacking on sweets and nuts and drinking tea and coffee until late into the night. —ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026

The partnership follows Searchlight’s work with Dirty Films on Sweetsick, a new drama led by Blanchett which marks the directorial debut of Alice Birch. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026

Yellowjackets has earned 10 Emmy nominations over its first three seasons, including best drama series nods in 2022 and 2023. —Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026

Six hail from South Korea, suggesting K-craft might be the next cultural export for the nation that spawned K-pop, K-beauty and K-dramas. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin drāmat-, drāma, borrowed from Greek drāmat-, drâma "deed, action, dramatic performance, play, dramatic event," from drā-, alternate stem of dráō, drân "to do, perform, accomplish, act" (of uncertain origin) + -mat-, -ma, resultative noun suffix

Note: In Indo-European terms, Greek dráō could be assigned to a present formation *dr̥h₂-i̯é- from a base *dreh₂- "do," but there are no recognizable cognates. Lithuanian darýti is more likely an iterative derivative from derė́ti "to be of use."

First Known Use

circa 1521, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing drama

• closet drama
• comedy drama
• costume drama
• drama queen
• high drama
• music drama

Rhymes for drama

• brahma
• chama
• comma
• dama
• gama
• lama
• llama
• mama
• mamma
• momma
• rama
• sama

Kids Definition

drama

noun

dra·​ma ˈdräm-ə  ˈdram- 

1

a

: a written work that tells a story through action and speech and is meant to be acted on a stage : play

b

: a play, movie, or television production with a serious tone or subject

2

: dramatic art, literature, or affairs

3

a

: an exciting event or series of events

the drama of the basketball playoffs

b

: dramatic effect or quality

used colored lighting for drama