amphitheater

American  

[am-fuh-thee-uh-ter, -thee^uh-ter, am-puh-] / ˈæm fəˌθi ə tər, -ˌθiə tər, ˈæm pə- /

Or amphitheatre

noun

amphitheaters plural

1. an open-air, oval or round building with tiers of seats around a central open area, as those used in ancient Rome for gladiatorial contests.

2. any similar indoor or outdoor place for public contests, games, performances, exhibitions, etc.; an arena, stadium, or auditorium.

3. a room having tiers of seats arranged around a central area, in which students and other observers can view surgery, hear lectures, etc.

4. British.

   1. the first section of seats in the gallery of a theater.

   2. a designated section of seats in any part of a theater.

5. a level area of oval or circular shape surrounded by rising ground.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• amphitheatric
  adjective
• amphitheatrical
  adjective
• amphitheatrically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• amphitheaters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of amphitheater

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin amphitheātrum, from Greek amphithéātron; see amphi-, theater

Explanation

The "amphi" of amphitheater means "on both sides" in Greek. Ancient amphitheaters were exactly as described: open-air theaters that allowed spectators to sit on both sides of the action. Today, the word amphitheater is used to mean any large, semicircular theater space. Often, although not always, they are outdoor spaces where concerts, theater, and other performances can be held. The Hollywood Bowl is an example of a modern amphitheater, where groups like Monty Python and the Beatles have performed. An amphitheater is also a large gallery overlooking an operating room in a hospital — usually used for teaching purposes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amphitheater amphitheaters

What they’re really entering is a natural amphitheater, transformed by the Tour de France, into one of the greatest stadiums in sports.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

The nearly two-hour video showed a sprawling compound fitted out with lavish features, including a tea house, an amphitheater and a helipad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

The amphitheater is also meant to remind the world of the city’s impact on pop culture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

He has pledged to redevelop a swath of the National Mall into a “National Garden of American Heroes” that could reportedly feature dining facilities, an amphitheater, and hundreds of statues of famous Americans.

From Slate ● May 18, 2026

We reached the amphitheater, and Dionysus pointed toward the campfire.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

The states said Live Nation tied its offerings together—for instance, requiring artists to use its promotion service if they wanted to perform at amphitheaters it controlled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

All other American amphitheaters owned by Live Nation have to be allowed to sell up to half of a given event’s tickets through a different provider, if they so wish, without fear of retaliation.

From Slate ● Mar. 10, 2026

And Live Nation controls two-thirds of the top amphitheaters in the U.S., so divesting from 10 of them is probably not going to make the biggest difference.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2026

Live Nation will also divest up to 13 amphitheaters and pay $280 million in damages to the nearly 40 states that were parties to the antitrust lawsuit against the California-based company.

From Barron's ● Mar. 9, 2026

Broad away, in amphitheaters undermined by currents, whole cities of ice-towers, in crashes, toward one center, fell.—In their earthquakes, Lisbon and Lima never saw the like.

From Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. II by Melville, Herman

Related Words

• auditorium