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 The Kingsway Theatre has no association with any other cinema or entities. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026 For her, cinema was just the best way to express herself and the best technology at the time to spread ideas. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026 That’s an apt definition of the cinema, and Clarke flung herself into the task. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 Studios and cinemas will need to grapple with whether their current business model is sustainable. — Bob Mondello, NPR, 26 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
  • The film from writer-director Elle Sofe Sara will get a theatrical release in early 2027 before launching on digital platforms later next year.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Yamazaki returns as director for a film Toho and Gkids describe as featuring more extensive effects work than its predecessor, while keeping its post-World War II Japan setting grounded in the experiences of its characters.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • Dark movie theaters, or creepy home basements, are the classic venues of choice for those who love supernatural scares.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Her path is profoundly reshaped by an encounter with Mari (Okamoto), a Japanese theater director battling cancer.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 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
  • Morgan cleared the land, planted a vegetable garden, and turned an open shed into a playhouse and guest bedroom for her grandsons.
    — Wendy Goodman, Curbed, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The archive Mittelman created covers every iteration of the live-theater playhouse and has several sections, one of which lists the name of everyone who ever performed on its stage.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of playhouse
Noun
  • Dark movie theaters, or creepy home basements, are the classic venues of choice for those who love supernatural scares.
    — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Paranormal Activity, the play, builds to the sort of slick and grisly finale that would be just right for the end of a cruel horror movie, but that lands awkwardly onstage.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 26 Aug. 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 28 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cinema

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cinema

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