plural mimes
1
: a form of entertainment in which a performer plays a character or tells a story without words by using body movements and facial expressions
an actor with a gift for mime
a performance done in mime
2
a
: a performance done without speaking : a performance using mime
b
: a performer who uses mime
an actor who is a talented mime
mimes; mimed; miming
: to make the movements of someone who is doing (something) without actually doing it
He mimed playing a guitar.
She mimed picking up the phone and dialing a number.
He mimed the words to the song. [=he moved his mouth like someone singing the song but he did not actually sing the words]
Cite this Entry
“Mime.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/mime. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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