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playwriting

American  
[pley-rahy-ting] / ˈpleɪˌraɪ tɪŋ /

noun

  1. the art or technique of writing theatrical plays; the work or profession of a playwright.


Etymology

Origin of playwriting

First recorded in 1895–1900; play + writing

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:

Wilson discovers his playwriting voice in this play, but he’s still working out his approach to dramatic structure.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 2, 2026

Initially, I wasn’t accepted into UCLA’s theater program, but I was involved with playwriting, directing and acting.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 28, 2026

Smart, entertaining and surprising, they offer reassurance that adventurous playwriting is not only alive and well but branching out into uncharted territory.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 8, 2026

"Classical plays give you language, the ability to speak it and to give a kind of spin to a sentence that you don't have with modern playwriting," she said.

From BBC Apr. 16, 2026

Chekhov’s first rule of playwriting goes something like this: “If there’s a gun on the wall in act one, scene one, you must fire the gun by act three, scene two.”

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

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