movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

plural movies

1

: a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch (as in a theater or on the screen of a television or mobile device) : motion picture sense 2a

watched a movie after dinner

a movie about the Civil War

an action movie

especially : a feature-length film shown in a movie theater

2

the movies : 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

the movies : the business of making movies : the medium or industry of film

Synonyms of movie

• film
• documentary

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies.

a career in the movies

Recent Examples on the Web

Nothing says horror movie like glow-in-the-dark blood stains in your hotel room. — Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026

There is a $30 million penalty if Paramount does not meet the goals on movie volume and additional investment of $500 million a year into film production. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

As its title suggests, the movie plays, at times, like an attempt to uncover the lady behind the legend, but its chaotic setting rarely allows for such a detailed inquiry. — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 21 Sep. 2026

Pluto offers live channels, a good-sized movie and TV library and after-air streaming of some CBS series. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

moving picture

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing movie

• B movie
• home movie
• movie house

Rhymes for movie

• groovy

Kids Definition

movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

1

: motion picture sense 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