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 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

One shot revisits a scene from the first film — this time from a new angle — showing Glinda whispering to Elphaba, who reacts with a smirk. —Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 23 Nov. 2025

But the legendary key party scene only scrapes the surface, and the film's blue-gray moodiness is downright enveloping, not to mention its brutally honest depiction of family ties. —Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025

The radiant amber light in which Meto is bathed during scenes of her exploits a few years prior becomes a stark contrast to the cool blue world that Nima inhabits in the present. —Stephen Saito, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025

Many stayed, putting down roots that grew into multigenerational farming families who continue to shape the region’s dynamic food scene. —Vivian Chung, Travel + Leisure, 23 Nov. 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