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

Phrases

behind the scenes

1

: out of public view

also : in secret

2

: in a position to see the hidden workings

taken behind the scenes and told just how in fact the actual government … has operated

—William Clark

Synonyms

• 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

In a statement published on Wednesday, the Lake Havasu City Fire Department said that Foxcroft's body was found inside one of the chambers at the scene of the fire. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025

The famous southwest London venue, which opened in 1899 and was designed by Frank Matcham, the architect who is responsible for some of London’s most iconic theatres including the Palladium and the Coliseum, is the scene of Damsgaard’s coronation as Brentford’s player of the year for 2024-25. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 11 July 2025

Brosnahan is competent, if too much of a stock character in the Planet offices—and wonderfully layered in her domestic scenes with Corenswet—but is swallowed entirely when Lois is meant to move the plot forward. —Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 11 July 2025

In the very first scene, Superman is lying beaten, broken and bloodied, though Krypto quickly pounces on him playfully to cut the tension. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 11 July 2025

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 a 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
• chine
• clean
• deen
• diene
• gene
• glean
• jean
• keen

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