plural films
often attributive
1
a
: a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b
: an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2
: a thin covering or coating
a film of ice
3
a
: an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b(1)
: a thin flexible transparent sheet (as of plastic) used especially as a wrapping
(2)
: a thin sheet of cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs
4
a
: movie, motion picture
an award-winning film
film critics
The film will start in ten minutes.
b
: the process, art, or business of making movies
a career in film
She studied film in college.
filmed; filming; films
1
: to cover with or as if with a film
2
: to make a motion picture of or from
film a scene
1
: to become covered or obscured with or as if with a film
2
: to make a motion picture
Synonyms
Examples of film in a Sentence
Noun
Have you bought any film for the camera?
We haven't had the film developed yet.
He's interested in making films about war.
We'll start the film at 10:00.
He studied film in college.
the protective film over a shark's eye
A film of ice covered the sidewalk.
Verb
Television news crew members came to film the interview.
She filmed the children playing.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023
As the film progresses, the trade is portrayed as both a risky and unfortunate way to earn a living and a way to maintain fierce agency, a duality that Sholl witnessed firsthand.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
The lucky golden ticket holders will be put up in incredible suites inspired by the film.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Director Tim Burton announced that the sequel to his 1988 classic film has just wrapped production.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2023
The band opened for the Clash in 1984 and acted alongside Strummer in the 1987 film Straight To Hell, and recorded a track together under the alias the Astro-Physicians, before Strummer was enlisted to produce the band’s fifth album Hell’s Ditch.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 30 Nov. 2023
Director Joseph McGinty Nichol, known professionally as McG, previously opened up to PEOPLE about what makes the film different from other body-swap comedies.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2023
Yet what truly offends French opinion about the film is a very French thing: the failure to sufficiently dramatize administrative excellence.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2023
What about as a film critic and festival programmer from elsewhere?
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
Selling Sunset also filmed here in episode three of season one.
—Michelle Duncan, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023
After filming an event at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., the team — which didn’t include O’Connor that day — went to the beach, where Baez wanted to go for a swim.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
After an extended hiatus, the second half of season five of Yellowstone will begin filming in late spring of 2024, Deadline reports.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023
Some of the interiors would be tougher for people to visit, but the Capitol classroom was filmed in an old medical facility that’s now a museum, [Tieranatomisches Theater].
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
In the fourth and fifth videos, Baldwin stops filming to check on the safety of the crew.
—Chloe Melas, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023
As well as being home to Barbie’s Dreamhouse the 200-acre site in Leavesden, Hertfordshire is also being used to film the forthcoming Wonka, inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and starring Timothée Chalamet.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 16 Nov. 2023
San Diego officials are also analyzing competing cities’ filming incentives and regulations, promoting San Diego at trade shows and posting all the area’s scenic vistas on websites used by film industry location scouts.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2023
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Noun
Not just inspired by the 1954 film, Yamazaki also references his favorite film of the series: 2001’s absolutely gonzo Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 30 Nov. 2023
As the film progresses, the trade is portrayed as both a risky and unfortunate way to earn a living and a way to maintain fierce agency, a duality that Sholl witnessed firsthand.
—Holly Jones, Variety, 30 Nov. 2023
The lucky golden ticket holders will be put up in incredible suites inspired by the film.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Director Tim Burton announced that the sequel to his 1988 classic film has just wrapped production.
—Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2023
The band opened for the Clash in 1984 and acted alongside Strummer in the 1987 film Straight To Hell, and recorded a track together under the alias the Astro-Physicians, before Strummer was enlisted to produce the band’s fifth album Hell’s Ditch.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 30 Nov. 2023
Director Joseph McGinty Nichol, known professionally as McG, previously opened up to PEOPLE about what makes the film different from other body-swap comedies.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 30 Nov. 2023
Yet what truly offends French opinion about the film is a very French thing: the failure to sufficiently dramatize administrative excellence.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2023
What about as a film critic and festival programmer from elsewhere?
—Margy Rochlin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2023
Verb
Next, Kardashian filmed a selfie video in which daughter Chicago West, 5, appeared to be asleep during the show.
—Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023
Selling Sunset also filmed here in episode three of season one.
—Michelle Duncan, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2023
After filming an event at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., the team — which didn’t include O’Connor that day — went to the beach, where Baez wanted to go for a swim.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023
After an extended hiatus, the second half of season five of Yellowstone will begin filming in late spring of 2024, Deadline reports.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 17 Nov. 2023
Some of the interiors would be tougher for people to visit, but the Capitol classroom was filmed in an old medical facility that’s now a museum, [Tieranatomisches Theater].
—Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
In the fourth and fifth videos, Baldwin stops filming to check on the safety of the crew.
—Chloe Melas, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2023
As well as being home to Barbie’s Dreamhouse the 200-acre site in Leavesden, Hertfordshire is also being used to film the forthcoming Wonka, inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and starring Timothée Chalamet.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 16 Nov. 2023
San Diego officials are also analyzing competing cities’ filming incentives and regulations, promoting San Diego at trade shows and posting all the area’s scenic vistas on websites used by film industry location scouts.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'film.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English filme, from Old English filmen; akin to Greek pelma sole of the foot, Old English fell skin — more at fell
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1604, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of film was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing film
Dictionary Entries Near film
Cite this Entry
“Film.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/film. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
film
1 of 2 noun1
: a thin skin or membrane
2
: a thin coating or layer
3
: a roll or strip of thin flexible transparent material coated with a chemical substance sensitive to light and used in taking pictures
4
film
2 of 2 verb1
: to cover or become covered with film
2
: to make a motion picture of or from
Medical Definition
film
noun1
a
: a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b
: an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2
a
: an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b
: a thin flexible transparent sheet of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs or making radiographs
More from Merriam-Webster on film
Nglish: Translation of film for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of film for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about film
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