videotape

1 of 2

noun

vid·​eo·​tape ˈvi-dē-ō-ˌtāp 

: a recording of visual images and sound (as of a television production) made especially formerly on magnetic tape

also : the medium used for such a recording

videotape

2 of 2

verb

videotaped; videotaping; videotapes

transitive verb

: to make a videotape of

videotape a show

Synonyms of videotape

Noun

• video
• tape

Examples of videotape in a Sentence

Noun

I watched the movie on videotape.

watched a videotape of her daughter's first ballet recital

Verb

They videotaped the baby's first steps.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Armed with just two open-reel videotapes, Goodman lugged his hulking camera and tripod behind percussionist Juma Sultan and began to document Hendrix’s historic set just 15 feet away from the musician. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026

The company over time grew from offering records, to cassette tapes, then CDs, eventually adding videotapes, then DVDs and Blu-rays to its mail-order offerings. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

To document your claim, Hicks says to walk through the entire property and photograph or videotape everything, including areas that look untouched. — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Police videotaped the funeral but never identified a suspect and the case went cold for decades. — Mike Toole, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1953, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1957, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing videotape

• videotape recorder

Rhymes for videotape

• cityscape
• agape
• escape
• landscape
• lenape
• reshape
• seascape
• soundscape
• ape
• cape
• crape
• crepe

Kids Definition

videotape

1 of 2 noun

vid·​eo·​tape ˈvid-ē-ō-ˌtāp 

: a recording of visual images and sound (as of a television production) made on magnetic tape

also : the magnetic tape used for such a recording

videotape

2 of 2 verb

: to make a videotape of

videotape a show