drama

American  

[drah-muh, dram-uh] / ˈdrɑ mə, ˈdræm ə /

noun

• dramas
  plural

1. a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play.

2. the branch of literature having such compositions as its subject; dramatic art or representation.

3. the art dealing with the writing and production of plays.

4. any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting, or striking interest or results.

   the drama of a murder trial.

5. the quality of being dramatic.

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drama British  

/ ˈdrɑːmə /

noun

1. a work to be performed by actors on stage, radio, or television; play

2. the genre of literature represented by works intended for the stage

3. the art of the writing and production of plays

4. a situation or sequence of events that is highly emotional, tragic, or turbulent

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• minidrama
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dramas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of drama

First recorded in 1505–15; from Late Latin, from Greek drâma “action (of a play),” from drá(ein), drâ(n) “to act, do” + -ma, noun suffix

Explanation

Drama is highly emotional. It can happen on stage, like a performance of "Hamlet," or in a gaggle of 7th grade girls, breathlessly dissecting why so-and-so broke up with what's-her-name. The word drama comes directly from Greek, meaning "action" or "a play." Which is no surprise, since ancient Athens was a hotbed of dramatic theater. The earliest recorded actor was a Greek named Thespis, and actors today are still called "thespians" in his honor. Drama doesn't always take place on the stage, though. You can use the word, sometimes with a roll of the eyes, to describe behavior or a reaction to a situation that appears a little overly emotional.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drama dramas

The Prince of Wales will prioritise his public work in the coming months and try not to get drawn into the drama around the UK return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

He produced David Lynch’s 1980 drama “The Elephant Man,” while Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror classic “Psycho” inevitably calls to mind Brooks’ 1977 Hitchcock spoof “High Anxiety.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

For the tabloids, the return of the prodigal prince is a clear moneymaker and source of endless drama.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The drama at Tata is a reminder of the looming corporate governance challenge facing other family-owned companies in Asia.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Lombardy, the large, pale, and intense Roman Catholic priest, was perhaps the chief supporting actor in the drama at Reykjavik.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Do you just see them as dramas for adults?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Knox later returned to the U.S., where she began to campaign against wrongful convictions and participated in the production of several television documentaries and dramas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Glamorous actress Rouzaina Lazkani, 36, known for television dramas, was catapulted into politics when she was among the 70 lawmakers appointed by Sharaa under the country's transitional constitutional arrangements.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Unlike some Korean spas, which feature seemingly omnipresent TV screens playing Korean dramas or game shows, Spa Hyu has just three small TVs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Above all, Faure had the confidence to turn his antipathy towards the many- layered complexity of Wagner’s music dramas into a much purer, emotionally restrained sound.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• comedy
• farce
• melodrama
• play
• production
• scene
• show
• theater
• tragedy