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 Hungary's history of movie-making Hungary has been involved with cinema since its earliest days. — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 His work was defined by a rebellious energy that echoed throughout his painting, photography, cinema, music and television. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026 Now destined to be a loss, the film is on the verge of becoming one of the biggest flops in cinema history. — Lou Gomis, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 The Pointe des Arts complex, which also includes a cinema, a hotel, and other amenities, cost over $500 million to finish. — News Desk, Artforum, 14 Oct. 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 nearly six-minute film shows how the team combines precision machining, assembly, and repair to accelerate robot development.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Dyrholm’s casting in Incidents of Intimacy marks a homecoming for the Danish actress who was part of the ensemble cast in Thomas Vinterberg’s Cannes Jury Prize winner The Celebration, the first film to be made under the original manifesto.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • In 2015, The Washington Post profiled teaching associates at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia, including a theater actor who helped medical students learn pelvic examinations.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • North American movie theaters were flooded with new films this weekend, including a video game reboot, a big budget survival thriller and a Jane Austen adaptation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of theater
Noun
  • But this is nonetheless a fascinatingly dark and uncompromising film that reaffirms Nelson’s standing as a vital force in American independent filmmaking for more than three decades.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Universal acclaim or not, the film launched his groundbreaking directing career and helped usher in a new era of Black independent filmmaking.
    — Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of filmmaking
Noun
  • The property also featured a playhouse with a ping-pong table and bar.
    — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The play is directed by the playhouse’s new co-artistic director Sasha Brätt.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of playhouse
Noun
  • The biggest names in movies, music, fashion and beyond pulled out their sartorial best for the annual fundraiser that celebrates cinematic achievement and raises money for the museum.
    — Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2026
  • None offered particularly impressive image quality in our standard tests using movies on disc, but most were within what most people will consider an acceptable range.
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 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 19 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cinema

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cinema

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