motion pictures

noun

plural of motion picture
as in movies
a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track a popular novel that was made into a major motion picture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 motion pictures And because major motion pictures often require years to produce, a decision postponed today can become a missing film several years from now. — Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026 The film will be among the 20 titles competing at the festival, running against other major motion pictures. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 23 July 2026 Online voting for nominations in all categories will start on Monday, December 14, and run through Monday, January 4, for TV and ads and through Wednesday, January 6, for motion pictures. — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 21 July 2026 The coalition said in a news release the combined media company, if allowed to merge, would control nearly one-third of theatrical motion pictures and nearly one-third of basic cable programming. — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 13 July 2026 As a result of this connection, Powell received offers to appear in motion pictures. — Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026 They’re scanned for motion pictures, visual effects, and for video games. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 May 2026 Major motion pictures require literally thousands of specialists to make visions – fantastical, realistic, outlandish – come alive and be globally seen. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026 Phil Stong’s novel State Fair was inspired by it and went on to become three motion pictures and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motion pictures
  1. movies
  2. moving pictures
  3. films
  4. pictures
Noun
  • Rafaela recaps many shows for us, particularly the Below Deck universe, and writes about movies too.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Across Greengrass’ three Bourne movies, the elite assassin turns against the clandestine institution that created him, determined to escape its grip and bring its covert operations to light.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of movies
Noun
  • No combination of stilettos and old-fashioned shoe-leather can temper the fact that integrity, talent, hard work, and a dedication to treating everything from fashion to the moving pictures with seriousness is in perpetual danger of extinction.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The Polk Theatre, an ornate 1928 Italianate venue, has been screening films in Lakeland’s downtown square since before moving pictures had sound.
    — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2025
Definition of moving pictures
Noun
  • People don’t like to imagine themselves being murdered or dragged through the mud, so these slasher films that would otherwise be enjoyable are hard to stomach sometimes.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The fast-talking Sun, who previously worked at Chinese video streaming platforms iQIYI, Youku and ByteDance’s Douyin, launched Feixiang Universe last year to produce AI films.
    — Ling Wei, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of films
Noun
  • Lux is drawn back to the old pictures and voice notes on his phone, while Mille stares at the WhatsApp chat with her sister as if waiting for a response.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The Beloved Pets Ofrenda had nearly 2,000 pictures of pets on display last year, Barreiro says.
    — Yvonne Villasenor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of pictures

Browse Nearby Words

motion picture
motion pictures
motions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motion pictures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motion%20pictures. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All