movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē How to pronounce movie (audio)
1
: a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch on a screen or television : motion picture
watched a movie after dinner
a movie about the Civil War
an action movie
2
movies plural : a showing of a motion picture especially in a theater
went to the movies last Friday
also : a theater that shows movies
What's playing at the movies?
3
movies plural : the business of making movies : the motion-picture medium or industry

Example Sentences

He wants to work in the movies. a career in the movies
Recent Examples on the Web For more on what makes the stop-motion movie so special, check out our review. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 13 Mar. 2023 In the new movie, Kirby is depicted as having embarked on a law enforcement career since her near-death experience, now working as an FBI agent based in Atlanta. Tommy Mcardle, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2023 Here, the only gunshot in the entire movie occurs off-camera, while potentially dangerous scenes — when Jax swaggers into rooms where strangers might snuff her — are curiously lacking in tension. Peter Debruge, Variety, 11 Mar. 2023 The comic-book movie earned just 16% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and became a viral meme thanks in part to it flopping (and re-flopping) in theaters. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2023 The new movie tells the story of board game designer Audrey and marketing executive Matthew who must develop a new game product to add romance to the lives of their customers. oregonlive, 11 Mar. 2023 Amanda Jones and Christian Howard star in the 2023 TV movie. Josie Howell | , al, 10 Mar. 2023 Waiting for the online release and want to enjoy the original Avatar movie in the meantime? Reece Rogers, WIRED, 10 Mar. 2023 For most people, a change in carpet is a shocking as, say, the wrong movie being dubbed Best Picture in front of a live audience. Kelsey Mulvey, House Beautiful, 10 Mar. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

moving picture

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of movie was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near movie

Cite this Entry

“Movie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/movie. Accessed 20 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

movie

noun
mov·​ie ˈmü-vē How to pronounce movie (audio)
1
2
a
: a story represented in motion pictures
b
pl : a showing of a movie
went to the movies yesterday
3
plural : the business of making movies : the motion-picture industry

More from Merriam-Webster on movie

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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