drama

American  

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

noun

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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• minidrama noun

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

And if its mix of comedy and drama can be a little destabilizing, you won’t need to worry about where it ends up.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Performances of drama plays on tour have seen the biggest drop, declining by almost three-quarters between 2019 and 2024, according to the State of Touring report, which was commissioned by Arts Council England.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive Jamie Dimon memorably captured the drama in October 2025, warning, “When you see one cockroach, there are probably more.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

US hit drama Euphoria has made its long-awaited return, with stars Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney and Jacob Elordi all back - but many critics say it doesn't live up to its previous heights.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

His hard work on Battle Cry was a brief glimpse into the real-life drama that was happening on the other side of the world.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

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