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 Netflix will stream a collection of 35 films from the Mexican cinema pioneer, including classics such as Pepe, El padrecito and Romeo y Julieta. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 Allegedly, so many cinema-goers vomited and fainted during the initial screenings of William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973) that theatre staff had to hand out smelling salts. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 The annual event celebrates the most influential figures working in cinema while raising support for the museum’s film collection and programming. — Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026 The event marked the renaming of the Alamo Drafthouse Mueller cinema in Texas as the Matthew McConaughey Cinema. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinema
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cinema
  1. film
  2. theater
  3. filmmaking
  4. playhouse
  5. movie
Noun
  • Under Binface’s black cape, trash can and ample body armor that looks straight out of a low-budget sci-fi film, is a middle-aged comedian named Jon Harvey trying to keep his cool during a sweaty summer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As time passes and questions remain unanswered, the film shows how grief connects, relationships change, and new perspectives emerge.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • Viola Davis The EGOT-winning Davis and Panettiere worked together on the 2016 courtroom drama Custody, directed by theater icon James Lapine.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The theater has hosted a Jimmy Buffett concert, a high school graduation, an outdoor ice skating rink, and Fourth of July festivities, along with its nightly fare.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of theater
Noun
  • 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
  • While visual effects can enhance martial arts on screen, Wu argues that authentic filmmaking still depends on performance.
    — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 25 July 2026
Definition of filmmaking
Noun
  • Massanutten Resort, Virginia Climb to the top of Massanutten Resort‘s towering playhouse for a good overview of all the water cannons and waterfalls, as well as the giant tipping bucket.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Her Mame years kicked off with a national tour in 1965, followed by summer engagements, bus & truck tours and stops in Las Vegas, playhouses and dinner theaters.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026
Definition of playhouse
Noun
  • Want to use a song in a movie, advertisement or television show?
    — Charlotte Isidore, NPR, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The airline began moving away from the screens nearly a decade ago, betting that passengers would instead watch movies and television on their own devices.
    — Rajesh Kumar Singh, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of movie

Browse Nearby Words

cinctures
cinema
cinemas
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinema.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cinema. Accessed 19 Aug. 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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