mime 1 of 2

Definition of mimenext
1
as in performer
an actor in a story performed silently and entirely by body movements that annoying mime on the sidewalk is pretending to be in an invisible box again

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2
as in gesture
a movement of the body or limbs that expresses or emphasizes an idea or feeling the speech-impaired patient had to convey his wishes with mime or scribbled notes

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mime

2 of 2

verb

as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior as a joke, Eric knelt by the dinner table and began miming a dog begging for food

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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 mime
Noun
Expertise in using one’s body (think dancers or mimes). Big Think, 6 Apr. 2026 The long-running music/movement/fantasy/comedy/mime/percussion performance spectacle took a hit last year when its standing companies in New York, Boston and Chicago all thumped their last drum full of blue paint. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
The clip features four male models — who look nothing like Catmen Anthony D’Amato, Mike Montali, Brian Dunne, and Don DiLego — miming their way through a performance of the song in Orson Welles-era black & white. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2026 At the snap, the three tight ends – Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen – mimed a run block, just for a beat. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mime
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mime
Noun
  • Once again charming viewers with his native Australian accent, the actor remains effortlessly entertaining while using his charisma to neutralize caustic dialogue that would flatten a less likable performer on impact.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 May 2026
  • Electronics company Ibiden was the top performer, climbing 17%, while manufacturing and metals company Mitsui Kinzoku gained 16%.
    Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Where small gestures carry weight.
    Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
  • As the team toasted his 900th career win as a major-league manager, Counsell downed the bitter-tasting liqueur, a celebratory gesture for someone who’s not exactly known as a party animal.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • Streep imitated how Hawn, 80, would arrive on set, always apologetic.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026
  • Speaking in Ormond Beach, DeSantis took aim at Jeffries’ recent warnings to Florida Republicans over redistricting, appearing to use African-American vernacular to imitate the Brooklyn lawmaker, who in 2023 became the first Black politician to lead a major party in Congress.
    Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Talkative characters like the froggish Mallow and even Bowser himself are motor-mouthed and sarcastic, nigglingly mocking Mario for his inability to speak in anything other than nods and pantomimes.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2026
  • In other words, reconstruction in Gaza will remain a cruel diplomatic pantomime, while millions of people huddle in tents waiting for the next humanitarian aid box.
    Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At every turn, OpenAI has appeared eager to copy the success of its rival.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There’s some Streisand, too, and a big dose of Andrea Martin, specifically Martin’s signature SCTV character Edith Prickley, that bawdy, gawdy ham with all the bravado of a Catskills clown.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Thompson, who wants the Spartans to emulate the stability and attendance of the National Lacrosse League as well as the Savannah Bananas’ fan engagement, hopes the team can eventually sell out the 10,000-seat Coliseum.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Today’s pope, Leo XIV, is eager to emulate his namesake.
    Elias Wachtel, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • To make those mini-hearts at scale, Sharma said, researchers use bioreactors that effectively mimic microgravity.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 3 May 2026
  • As Aaron Boone summoned Tim Hill to the mound in the seventh inning of the Yankees‘ win over the Orioles on Saturday, the manager mimicked the reliever’s sidearm delivery.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mime.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mime. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

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