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

Insider tip For visitors looking to relax and not go far, book the screening room for your first night and enjoy your favorite movie on the big screen after a day relaxing poolside. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

On the craft side, the movie never feels too slick; there’s an agreeable looseness to its pacing, even at its zippiest, and a crisp unfussiness to Malik Hassan Sayeed’s cinematography. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

On a boat — not to mention a reality-TV show — attachments develop and fall apart with unusual urgency; watching Kat and Gen felt like watching the main friend duo of a coming-of-age movie ride out the turbulence of growing up in 2x speed. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026

The movie charts the evolution of OpenAI and dramatizes the tumultuous time when Altman was controversially fired and then rehired by the AI giant. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Oct. 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