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
videotaped; videotaping; videotapes
: to make a videotape of
videotape a show
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
Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Television started out as a live medium, after all — virtually all programs were live in the early, golden age of the small screen before the use of film, and then videotape, allowed for more flexibility.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The cursed man who sees UFOs is Christo Roppolo, an eccentric Californian who claims to have videotaped multiple sightings over the years.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for videotape
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Noun
From anecdotes about living on location in the Nevada desert to shopping it around to distributors on videotape, their accounts illuminate the film’s winding path from a gutsy grassroots project to a Sundance hit that changed how lesbian love stories were shown on the big screen.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Television started out as a live medium, after all — virtually all programs were live in the early, golden age of the small screen before the use of film, and then videotape, allowed for more flexibility.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 12 June 2026
Verb
Varley videotaped himself keeping Preston awake and then spinning him on a playground teacup at excess speed, according to police.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
The cursed man who sees UFOs is Christo Roppolo, an eccentric Californian who claims to have videotaped multiple sightings over the years.
—Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 13 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for videotape
Cite this Entry
“Videotape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/videotape. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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