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 Starting in the 1930s, as talking pictures and then radio and TV supplanted theater as the prime form of mass entertainment, some were converted to cinemas. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026 AccRite, meanwhile, sees cinema not just as a tool for unlocking the future but also for rewriting the past. — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026 But thanks to production designer and native Angeleno Cat Smith, Bret’s day at the cinema feels as true as memory. — Micah Meyers, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 Suddenly, execs were seeing solutions for how to excite the younger audiences who have come to seek entertainment options from content creators rather than cinemas. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 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 spawned the sequels Ocean’s 12 in 2004 and 2007’s Ocean’s 13, in which both of them reprised their roles.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Joie de Vivre is produced by MeMo Films, the production company co-founded in 2010 by entrepreneur and fashion designer Gabriele Moratti and distributor and film producer Francesco Melzi d’Eril.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • For the symbolic ceremony at the 2,300-year-old Greek theater, the bride donned a Justin Alexander Signature ivory lace gown with a cathedral veil.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • IndieWire is pleased to exclusively share both the film’s first trailer and its release plans from the Independent Film Company, which will release the film in theaters this November.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 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
  • Or designing a playhouse for her toddler entirely out of cardboard boxes.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of playhouse
Noun
  • Young people want movies and TV shows that reflect their own lives and relatable issues, rather than more stories in the fantasy genre, according to last year’s annual Teens and Screens report from the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • After all, an emotional, and intense, journey is also what the protagonists of her movie embark on.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 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 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cinema

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cinema

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