pantomime
Americannoun
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pantomimes
plural
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the art or technique of conveying emotions, actions, feelings, etc., by gestures without speech.
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a play or entertainment in which the performers express themselves mutely by gestures, often to the accompaniment of music.
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significant gesture without speech.
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an actor in dumb show, as in ancient Rome.
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Also called Christmas pantomime. a form of theatrical spectacle common in England during the Christmas season, generally adapted from a fairy tale and including stock character types who perform songs and dances, tell jokes, etc.
verb (used with object)
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pantomimes,
present (3rd person singular)
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pantomimed,
past participle, past
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pantomiming
present participle
verb (used without object)
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pantomimes,
present (3rd person singular)
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pantomimed,
past participle, past
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pantomiming
present participle
noun
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Sometimes shortened to: panto. a kind of play performed at Christmas time characterized by farce, music, lavish sets, stock roles, and topical jokes
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( as modifier )
a pantomime horse
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a theatrical entertainment in which words are replaced by gestures and bodily actions
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action without words as a means of expression
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(in ancient Rome) an actor in a dumb show
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informal a confused or farcical situation
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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pantomimicrynoun
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pantomimistnoun
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pantomimicadjective
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pantomimicaladjective
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pantomimicallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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pantomimesimple
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pantomimessimple
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have pantomimedperfect
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has pantomimedperfect
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am pantomimingprogressive
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are pantomimingprogressive
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is pantomimingprogressive
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have been pantomimingperfect progressive
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has been pantomimingperfect progressive
Past
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pantomimedsimple
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had pantomimedperfect
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was pantomimingprogressive
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were pantomimingprogressive
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had been pantomimingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pantomime
1580–90; earlier pantomimus < Latin < Greek pantómīmos. See panto-, mime
Explanation
If you make a motion with your hands to indicate eating ice cream, you are using pantomime. Parents often use this wordless communication to try to keep things from the kids. Unfortunately, the kids usually catch on quickly — especially if there is ice cream involved. An entire show, done without words is often called a pantomime, but around December, you may read about a Christmas pantomime. This is a traditional holiday show in the United Kingdom. The play is usually based on a fairy tale, and it is put on especially for children. Although it is called a pantomime or panto, the show actually includes talking, jokes, and music. The tradition goes back to the 1700s and is still popular today.
Vocabulary lists containing pantomime
Of Mice and Men
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Tangerine
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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:
And now, it’s coming after the pantomime chuggers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
A broadcaster and pantomime regular, he had limited experience of TV drama.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
Christopher Luscombe’s production of “The Magic Flute” wittily transformed Mozart’s Singspiel into a British pantomime, a closely related theatrical tradition.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
And the 5ft 9in southpaw said she is ready to draw on the experience of being the pantomime villain.
From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2026
The high- backed chair in front of the fire moved suddenly and there rose up out of it—like a pantomime demon coming up out of a trapdoor—the alarming form of Unde Andrew.
From "The Magician's Nephew" by C. S. Lewis
Kingsley pantomimes resisting repeated entreaties amid the cacophony.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
Darren Henley, chief executive of Arts Council England, says pantomimes are the "absolute bedrock" that regional theatre across across the country are built upon.
From BBC ● Dec. 12, 2025
His characters may be confined by their circumstances but their imaginations are set free in theatrical games, pantomimes and nostalgic reveries.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2025
He said they had performed together in pantomimes and at charity functions, and they last met for lunch in 2024.
From BBC ● Feb. 1, 2025
She pantomimes gardening gestures at me and taps her index finger on an imaginary watch.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
First, there’s a pantomimed back story: During the overture, actors depicting the lovers as young teens flirt and are discouraged by adults.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sought out Shohei Ohtani last year during the first day of All-Star game festivities and pantomimed holding a camera.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2022
And sometimes Mitski’s charming prances around the stage in her flowy dress or pantomimed door-knocking in “Should’ve Been Me” warranted a snapshot.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 29, 2022
Gone are the white gloves and the pantomimed motions of slaves at work as Jefferson arrives at Monticello; now some members of the ensemble stand at a distance, and don’t even join in the singing.
From New York Times ● Oct. 23, 2021
The way the child asked for assistance without speaking and the mother pointed, nodded, and pantomimed her child out of a fix.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Juszczyk had been fined $29,852 after celebrating two catches during a Sept. 20 win over the Miami Dolphins by pantomiming the act of drinking a beverage, something he’s done for years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was then Iran’s foreign minister, would sometimes retreat to the back of the room during the nuclear talks and put his head in his hands, pantomiming despair.
From Slate ● May 1, 2026
You may find yourself pantomiming with one of your feet to your children in the persona of “Mr. Stinkyfoot,” a somewhat boorish Frenchman who espouses the importance of cleanliness and the needs for a bath.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026
“I just, you know, I get the routing,” he said, pantomiming looking at a check, “and then I see the number and I go, ‘I’ll go.’”
From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2025
He stood behind Basil, pantomiming the hare’s every movement, puffing up his tiny chest and strutting about importantly.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
