premiere
noun
a first public performance or showing of a play, opera, film, etc.
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premiere
1 American
[pri-meer, -myair]
/ prɪˈmɪər, -ˈmjɛər /
French
première
noun
-
premieres
plural
-
a first public performance or showing of a play, opera, film, etc.
-
the leading woman, as in a drama.
verb (used with object)
premiered,
premiering
verb (used without object)
premiered,
premiering
-
to have the first public showing.
It will premiere at the Arcadia Theater.
-
to perform publicly for the first time, as in a particular role, entertainment medium, etc..
When does he premiere as Hamlet?
adjective
première
2
American
[pri-meer, -myair, pr uh-myer]
/ prɪˈmɪər, -ˈmjɛər, prəˈmjɛr /
noun
-
premières
plural
premiere
British
/ ˈprɛmɪə, ˈprɛmɪˌɛə /
noun
-
the first public performance of a film, play, opera, etc
-
the leading lady in a theatre company
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of premiere
First recorded in 1890–95; from French première literally, “first”; feminine of premier; see origin at premier
Explanation
A premiere is the first showing of a work of art. A movie premiere often takes place in Los Angeles or New York, with stars in attendance and the iconic red carpet rolled out to greet them. Premiere comes from the French première, which means "first." The French origin probably accounts for the word's being seen as elegant and exciting. Over time, premiere has spawned its own verb––to premiere means to perform or be performed for the first time.
Vocabulary lists containing premiere
English Words Derived from French, List 3
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Academy Awards, List 4
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Commonly Confused Words, List 4
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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:
East West Players and Hypokrit Live Arts co-produced this Southern California premiere of “Wives,” directed by Hypokrit co-founder and artistic director Arpita Mukherjee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
Mother, danced with dignity by Unity Phelan at the premiere, is initially garbed in a heavy golden dress with boxy letters spelling out “PROTECT” across her shoulders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
He’s already preparing for one of his biggest opportunities: “Days of Thunder 2” with Tom Cruise slated to premiere in 2028.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
The premiere launch event took place at Piccadilly Circus in London on Tuesday, with footage from the new series taking over the digital displays.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
She hadn’t been invited to Fred’s big premiere party at Jenny’s house.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
One of Ms. Zeani's career highlights was singing the lead role of Blanche in the première of Francis Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites” at La Scala in 1957.
From New York Times ● Mar. 21, 2023
On Monday the outgoing PM, Jean Castex, called Ms Borne "première ministre" - a feminine form of the usual "premier ministre" - to underline the historical significance of her appointment.
From BBC ● May 17, 2022
Nonetheless, the world première was a startling and memorable night.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 30, 2019
On October 20th, the Donaueschingen Music Days, the long-running German festival, gave the world première of “Elemental Realities,” Frey’s first large-scale piece for orchestra in many years.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 29, 2019
I told Doreen I would not go to the show or the luncheon or the film première, but that I would not go to Coney Island either, I would stay in bed.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
Arriving in theaters this fall after multiple splashy film festival premieres, it announces the 38-year-old actress, best known for playing a bedraggled spy in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses, as a potential Oscar contender.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Wonka's The Golden Ticket premieres on Netflix this week, with a two-part finale scheduled for 30 September.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
The reunion limited series, starring Frankie Muniz and Bryan Cranston, premieres April 10 on Hulu and is part of a wave of ‘comfort food TV.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Season 4 of “Tulsa King” premieres Friday, Oct.
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2026
Live concerts in the nineteenth century had typically presented mostly premieres, with some familiar favourites sandwiched in alongside them.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Now Morgan is asking us to spend ten more hours in the Queen’s company, with the sumptuous and surprisingly engrossing Netflix series “The Crown,” which premières today.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 4, 2016
He was mooching around film sets and premières, and the parts began rolling in.
From Economist ● Jun. 9, 2016
But over the course of three seasons—the fourth premières tonight, on FX—“The Americans” has become one of the most multilayered dramas on TV; nothing else can match its combination of genuine sadness and muted, mordant hilarity.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 16, 2016
That conceit, of the naturalized citizen serving as a ringleader for an inquisition into American history, is the notional germ of Ferguson’s new show, “Join or Die,” which premières on the History channel tonight.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 18, 2016
"But, Madame Rodrigues—" "If one of my premières cares to take you in hand, I have no objection; but that is all I can do for you."
From Lippincott's Magazine, October 1885 by Various
As long as television exists, “The Twilight Zone,” which premiered on Oct.
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026
A full-length YouTube special premiered on Thursday, which has already been viewed more than two million times, and it will be on Netflix from 30 September before a full series airs in 2027.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
The 86-year-old singer from Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf, has appeared as an on-off coach on the singing competition since it premiered in 2012.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
The arbitration-based courtroom show premiered in 1995 and aired for 25 seasons before concluding in 2021.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
It was quite a different sight a year later when Monteverdi’s new opera, Arianna, premiered.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
This is the brilliant way writer-director Jesse Eisenberg thrusts us into his third — and best — feature, “The Debut,” screening at this year’s New York Film Festival and premiering in theaters December 11.
From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026
He will play the lead role in the upcoming ITV drama The Party premiering on 11 October.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
The delightful “Cupertino,” also premiering Thursday, comes from Robert and Michelle King, whose other current CBS show is “Elsbeth.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
HHS officials still held the event, premiering a separate food effort, and saying they were continuing to work on the ultraprocessed food policy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Through sheer coincidence, around the same time Mom was doing her research on the club, a documentary film about Peter Westbrook himself was premiering in New York City.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
