film

noun, often attributive

Save Word

\ ˈfilm

, Southern also ˈfi(ə)m \

plural films

Definition of film

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

3a : 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

4a : 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.

film

verb

filmed; filming; films

Definition of film (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cover with or as if with a film

2 : to make a motion picture of or from film a scene

intransitive verb

1 : to become covered or obscured with or as if with a film

2 : to make a motion picture

Other Words from film Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about film

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from film

Noun

filmless \ ˈfilm-ləs

\ adjective

Verb

filmable \ ˈfil-mə-bəl

\ adjective

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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In recent conversations with four Chicago area film and theater workers, one word kept popping up, like a buoy, regarding the secret ingredient in getting to the other side. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Chicago reopenings latest: Music Box Theatre books ‘In the Heights’ with limited capacity," 3 May 2021 The fallout from reports over film and theater producer Scott Rudin’s abusive behavior toward his colleagues continues. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Essential Arts: A largely Latino-free Oscars in L.A.'s Mexican heart," 1 May 2021 But to many, Dukakis was best known for her work in film and television. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, "Moonstruck’s Olympia Dukakis Is Dead at 89," 1 May 2021 The Academy Awards also honored Dukakis in a tweet memorializing her film and stage career that spanned nearly 60 years. — BostonGlobe.com, "Here’s how Cher, other celebs, remember Olympia Dukakis," 1 May 2021 That maternal quality carried over in her film and television careers. — Nardine Saad, San Francisco Chronicle, "Olympia Dukakis, 'Moonstruck' Oscar winner who starred in S.F. productions, dies at 89," 1 May 2021 On top of new music, Eilish has been working on film and books. — Elise Brisco, USA TODAY, "Billie Eilish gets 'vulnerable' in new single and video 'Your Power' from follow-up album," 29 Apr. 2021 The new technology arrives as SAG-AFTRA is taking steps to make film and television sets safer work environments in other ways, too. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, "Hollywood kicked off #MeToo. Now SAG-AFTRA is making it easier for union members to report sexual harassment," 29 Apr. 2021 Revenue at the film and television studios segment slipped 0.6% to $2.4 billion. — Lillian Rizzo, WSJ, "Comcast’s Profit Soars Amid Broadband, Wireless Growth," 29 Apr. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Occasionally, crew members would approach people in their cars and film a few comments. — oregonlive, "What was it like at the ‘Top Chef’ Portland drive-in? Rain, a scary corndog, a fogged-up windshield, and more," 1 May 2021 Cameras in the courtroom weren’t allowed to photograph or film the jurors, and they were only referred to by number during the trial. — Washington Post, "First Chauvin juror to speak publicly recounts stress of coming to court to ‘watch a Black man die’," 28 Apr. 2021 Productions that spend more than half their total budget in Massachusetts — or film at least half the time in the state— are also eligible for a 25 percent production credit and a sales tax exemption. — BostonGlobe.com, "‘Castle Rock,’ the Stephen King-inspired television series, received $14 million in state subsidies," 16 Apr. 2021 As for the production of Diana headed to Netflix, Playbill previously reported that the show was able to get approval last summer to stage and film at the Longacre with no audience and all necessary Covid-19 safety protocols in place. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, "Princess Diana Musical Plots Broadway Return, Netflix Special," 30 Mar. 2021 Authorize election inspectors, challengers and poll watchers to photograph and film the tabulation of votes. — Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan GOP senators file 39 election reform bills Democrats call racist, based on lies," 25 Mar. 2021 This is also when Neshat began to incorporate video and film into her practice, and nine such works are included in the exhibition. — Danielle Avram, Dallas News, "Shirin Neshat embraces the unknown and the outsider in her exhibition at the Modern," 18 Mar. 2021 Ava DuVernay’s organization Array launched Array Crew, a database that aims to help film and television productions diversify their crews. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, "Naomi Osaka, Michelle Wie West, and the strength of female athletes," 22 Feb. 2021 Trump supporter Milosh Jecmenic, a truck driver who splits his time between Washington and Miami, visited the security fence in Black Lives Matter Plaza to film video and take photographs of himself near a handful of anti-Trump protesters. — Los Angeles Times, "Police and National Guard scramble to secure D.C. and state capitols," 16 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'film.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about film

Dictionary Entries near film

Statistics for film

Last Updated

6 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Film.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/film. Accessed 17 May. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for film

film

noun

English Language Learners Definition of film

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a special material that is used for taking photographs

: the process, art, or business of making movies

: a thin layer on or over the surface of something

film

verb

English Language Learners Definition of film (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make a movie of (something) : to photograph (an event, scene, etc.) with a movie or video camera

: to make a movie

See the full definition for film in the English Language Learners Dictionary

film

noun

\ ˈfilm

Kids Definition of film

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a roll of material prepared for taking pictures

2 : movie sense 1

3 : a thin coating or layer

film

verb

filmed; filming

Kids Definition of film (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to make a movie

2 : to photograph on a film

film

noun

\ ˈfilm

Medical Definition of film

1a : a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle

b : an abnormal growth on or in the eye

2a : 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