movie
Americannoun
-
movies
plural
-
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.
-
a story, event, or the like, presented in this form.
-
movies,
-
Usually the movies the movie industry.
The movies use MPA ratings to inform patrons about content that may not be suitable for certain audiences.
-
all movies as a group, or a specific category of movies, considered as a genre.
gangster movies.
-
the exhibition of movies.
an evening at the movies.
-
Often the movies a movie theater.
Is there anything good playing at the movies on Main Street?
-
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing movie
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"It is a terrible movie but has a great name," another comment linking the movie to stock investments said.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
"It feels like I'm living in a movie or a dream; I can't quite grasp it," the 41-year-old lawyer told AFP.
From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026
The movie ends with Ricky Bobby speeding in a car without sponsors, a massive “ME” splashed on the hood.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
More recently, he was drawn into a multibillion-dollar fraud scandal surrounding failed Banco Master after acknowledging that he sought millions from its owner to finance a movie about his father.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
There’s no mention of me skipping the movie.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
Panettiere was a child actor who became a well-known celebrity and star of both TV shows and movies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026
"Maybe she will make some more movies... I love her movies. And if she comes back, we'll be in the front row."
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
Standouts for your weekend watch list: If you’re going to the movies this weekend, check out Anne Hathaway’s new dinosaur film, The End of Oak Street.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
It’s heartening that the movies are getting closer to that day.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Most of the buildings in town look like they’re from old-timey days, maybe when you were young, with those tall fronts that are just for show, like in Wild West movies.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
