scene

noun

ˈsēn 

1

: one of the subdivisions of a play: such as

a

: a division of an act presenting continuous action in one place

b

: a single situation or unit of dialogue in a play

the love scene

c

: a movie or television episode or sequence

2

a

: a stage setting

b

: a real or imaginary prospect suggesting a stage setting

a sylvan scene

3

: the place of an occurrence or action : locale

scene of the crime

4

: an exhibition of anger or indecorous behavior

He has stolen her salad, but she's too well-mannered to make a scene. [=act in a disruptive way]

—Vincent Canby

5

a

: sphere of activity

the drug scene

b

: situation

a bad scene

see also:

behind the scenes

Synonyms of scene

• setting
• background

Examples of scene in a Sentence

The play's opening scene takes place in the courtyard.

The actor was nervous about his big scene.

Police are now at the scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

The black-and-white snapshots of sailors hoisting lines on deck look similar to the modern scenes still playing out today. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Hours later, as the bodies of the children were being handed over to their families, scenes of anguish unfolded outside hospitals and in the neighborhood on the outskirts of Lahore where the private tutoring center was located in a house. — CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Indie Shakes managing director David Melville distills his production around scenes of intense conflict. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Upon arrival, deputies and first responders pronounced Bluthenthal dead at the scene. — Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, stage, from Latin scena, scaena stage, scene, probably from Etruscan, from Greek skēnē shelter, tent, building forming the background for a dramatic performance, stage; perhaps akin to Greek skia shadow — more at shine

First Known Use

circa 1520, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing scene

• a change of scene/scenery
• burst on the scene
• come/appeared on the scene
• crime scene
• cut-scene
• enter the picture/scene
• make the scene
• mob scene
• not someone's scene
• on the scene
• scene-stealer
• set the scene

Rhymes for scene

• bean
• bein
• bien
• bouin
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• jean
• keen
• lien

Kids Definition

scene

noun

ˈsēn 

1

a

: a division of an act during which there is no change of scene or break in time

b

: a single situation or conversation in a play

the love scene

c

: a small part of a motion picture or a television program

2

a

: a stage setting

change scenes

b

: a view or sight that looks like a picture

a winter scene

3

: the place of an event or action : locale

the scene of the crime

4

: a display of anger or misconduct

made a scene when accused of the crime

5

a

: area of activity

the music scene

b

: situation sense 3

the scene got serious when the police arrived

Medical Definition

scene

see primal scene