mime

American  

[mahym, meem] / maɪm, mim /

noun

1. the art or technique of portraying a character, mood, idea, or narration by gestures and bodily movements; pantomime.

2. an actor who specializes in this art.

3. an ancient Greek or Roman farce that depended for effect largely upon ludicrous actions and gestures.

4. a player in such a farce.

5. mimic.

6. a jester, clown, or comedian.

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verb (used with object)

mimed, miming

1. to mimic.

2. to act in mime.

verb (used without object)

mimed, miming

1. to play a part by mime or mimicry.

mime ¹ British  

/ maɪm /

noun

1. the theatrical technique of expressing an idea or mood or portraying a character entirely by gesture and bodily movement without the use of words

2. Also called: mime artist.  a performer specializing in such a technique, esp a comic actor

3. a dramatic presentation using such a technique

4. 1. a comic performance depending for effect largely on exaggerated gesture and physical action

   2. an actor in such a performance

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verb

1. to express (an idea) in actions or gestures without speech

2. (of singers or musicians) to perform as if singing (a song) or playing (a piece of music) that is actually prerecorded

MIME ² British  

abbreviation

1. multipurpose internet mail extensions

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Other Word Forms

• mimer noun

Etymology

Origin of mime

1610–20; < Latin mīmus < Greek mîmos imitator, mime, akin to mīmeîsthai to copy, imitate

Example Sentences

So then, if this is Percy and this is Stack, what they would do is he would go get changed, be Smoke, and we would kind of mime the scene.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

She says she has found a creative outlet in the form of dance, and wants to study dance, mime and physical theatre, but is struggling to find a course she can access.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2025

He rates a podcaster below “movies, TV, recording artist, radio personality, mime and organ grinder monkey.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2024

Maybe that mime on the beach who nearly drowned.

From Salon • Mar. 14, 2024

The passive trains the reader’s gaze on someone who’s having something done to him: See that mime?

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• comedian