movie

American  

[moo-vee] / ˈmu vi /

noun

movies plural

1. a sequence of consecutive still images recorded in a series to be viewed on a screen in such rapid succession as to give the illusion of natural movement; motion picture.

2. a story, event, or the like, presented in this form.

3. movies,

   1. Usually the movies the movie industry.

      The movies use MPA ratings to inform patrons about content that may not be suitable for certain audiences.

   2. all movies as a group, or a specific category of movies, considered as a genre.

      gangster movies.

   3. the exhibition of movies.

      an evening at the movies.

   4. Often the movies a movie theater.

      Is there anything good playing at the movies on Main Street?

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movie British  

/ ˈmuːvɪ /

noun

1. 1. an informal word for film

   2. ( as modifier )

      movie ticket

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• movies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of movie

First recorded in 1905–10; mov(ing picture) + -ie

Explanation

A movie is a film that you watch at a theater or at home on your TV, laptop, or tablet. Movie is short for "moving picture," which was pretty exciting in the late 1800s. You can rave about your favorite movie — whether it's "Citizen Kane" or "The Lion King" — and you can also talk about "the movies," or films in general and the industry that makes them. You might dream of working in the movies, for example. Before about 1912, movies were called "motion pictures." Movie is a shortened form of the phrase, which some people abbreviate into the more old-fashioned sounding "pictures."

Example Sentences

You know, like Barbie, in the whispery song from the movie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 11, 2026

But even worse followed, with such coincidentally bad timing that it would have suited a disaster movie.

From BBC • Jul. 10, 2026

It was the least amount of work I had to do for a song that was pre-loved from a moment in a movie.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2026

Siren Head’s popularity helped Henderson get other illustration work, including designing characters for the 2024 movie “Tarot.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026

Soon, the stage would be set up, and there would be a musical performance, and then later, there would be a movie screening.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

• cinema
• feature
• film
• flick
• motion picture
• picture
• show
• videotape