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You know what it looks like… but what is it called?
TAKE THE QUIZestablishing shot
noun
: a usually long shot in film or video used at the beginning of a sequence to establish an overview of the scene that follows
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
After an initial establishing shot, the camera pays less attention to the friends and more to the musically inclined Nelly and Johnny.
—
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2021
One establishing shot lingers on a raven cawing on a tree branch.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
The episode featured an establishing shot of Big Ben with the joke thrown in of it now having a digital face.
—Mike Bloom, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2022
While keeping the plot vague, the trailer provides a sense of the show's epic scope, with one impressive establishing shot after another.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 14 July 2022
In Aniq’s rom-com version of the event, a majority of the action is shot inside the vehicle, with a minimal establishing shot of the car leaving the driveway.
—Wilson Chapman, Variety, 3 Mar. 2022
After the last establishing shot of Baldwin was in the can, lunch was called.
—Meg James, Amy Kaufman And Julia Wick, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2021
After the last establishing shot of Baldwin was in the can, lunch was called.
—Meg James, Amy Kaufman And Julia Wick, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2021
After the last establishing shot of Baldwin was in the can, lunch was called.
—Meg James, Amy Kaufman And Julia Wick, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2021
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Alison Willmore, Vulture, 22 Feb. 2021
One establishing shot lingers on a raven cawing on a tree branch.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
The episode featured an establishing shot of Big Ben with the joke thrown in of it now having a digital face.
—Mike Bloom, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2022
While keeping the plot vague, the trailer provides a sense of the show's epic scope, with one impressive establishing shot after another.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 14 July 2022
In Aniq’s rom-com version of the event, a majority of the action is shot inside the vehicle, with a minimal establishing shot of the car leaving the driveway.
—Wilson Chapman, Variety, 3 Mar. 2022
After the last establishing shot of Baldwin was in the can, lunch was called.
—Meg James, Amy Kaufman And Julia Wick, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2021
After the last establishing shot of Baldwin was in the can, lunch was called.
—Meg James, Amy Kaufman And Julia Wick, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2021
After the last establishing shot of Baldwin was in the can, lunch was called.
—Meg James, Amy Kaufman And Julia Wick, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Nov. 2021
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'establishing shot.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1948, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of establishing shot was
circa 1948
Dictionary Entries Near establishing shot
Cite this Entry
“Establishing shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/establishing%20shot. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.
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