cinema

noun

ˈsi-nə-mə How to pronounce cinema (audio)
Definition of cinemanext
1
as in film
the art or business of making a movie felt that the cinema was one of the most challenging and fulfilling forms of artistic expression

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in theater
a building or part of a building where movies are shown got a job cleaning the cinemas at the multiplex

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cinema Movie goers will be able to sit through two films a day — all the participating cinemas will run the same sequence of films for the whole period, which may be extended if the heat wave continues. — CNN Money, 23 July 2026 Every year, longtime Ghibli fans as well as new, little ones, flock to cinemas. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 The test is whether internet-native intellectual property can persuade online viewers to become cinema audiences, with AI changing the economics of production rather than serving as the attraction itself. — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 But only the truly dedicated cinema buffs will catch the summer blockbuster on actual 70mm film as the acclaimed director intended. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cinema
  1. film
  2. theater
  3. filmmaking
  4. playhouse
  5. movie
Noun
  • The film’s massive ensemble cast also features Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliott Page, Himesh Patel, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Corey Hawkins, Mia Goth, James Remar and the voice of Bill Irwin.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • However, the role was most famously played by actor John Travolta in the 2007 version of the film.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • Chatsworth is one of the bigger facilities due to the theater’s scale.
    — Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Anne Hath-a-will and Anne Hath-a-way to enjoy theater snacks, just not the most iconic one.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 22 July 2026
Definition of theater
Noun
  • Those concerns echo comments Kashyap made earlier this year about the pressures facing contemporary cinema, particularly independent filmmaking in an increasingly fragmented viewing environment.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 21 July 2026
  • There is a romanticized version of independent filmmaking that people often imagine — a passionate artist with a great script, a group of believers, and a dream that somehow finds its way to the screen.
    — DJ Hale, IndieWire, 23 June 2026
Definition of filmmaking
Noun
  • Efforts to save the playhouse, widely considered to be one of the city’s leading architectural and cultural landmarks, stretch back to the abrupt closing of the debt-laden nonprofit theater in 2006.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
  • Features of the waterpark include a shallow pool with play equipment for children, a deeper pool with a three-story water slide, shaded seating, non-water play spaces, playhouses and a grass area for toddlers.
    — Imani Cruzen, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of playhouse
Noun
  • Taylor Zakhar Perez, Jessica Alba, Adeline Rudolph, Taylor Ortega, Tim Meadows and Dan Bucatinsky will also star in the movie.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 22 July 2026
  • Moviegoing Has Become More Event-Driven Streaming has made ordinary movie consumption extraordinarily convenient, which raises the bar for getting people into theaters.
    — David Deal, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of movie

Browse Nearby Words

cinctures
cinema
cinemas
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Cite this Entry

“Cinema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cinema. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cinema

Nglish: Translation of cinema for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cinema

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