a first public performance or showing of a play, opera, film, etc.
the leading woman, as in a drama.
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?
the first public performance of a film, play, opera, etc
the leading lady in a theatre company
First recorded in 1890–95; from French première literally, “first”; feminine of premier; see origin at premier
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pressler said Nolan and his family "were very moved" when they saw the pieces at the US premiere of the film.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The studio skipped last year's event, but will be back at the coveted Hall H on Saturday to promote "Avengers: Doomsday," which is slated to premiere in December.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
Phil debut in a program that included the premiere of “The Art of the Goal,” celebrating Los Angeles Football Club, and that was credited jointly to filmmaker Josh Kahn and composer Adam Schoenberg.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Last week, the actress Anne Hathaway attended the London premiere of “The Odyssey” wearing a flowy blue gown from Dior.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
We hosted a premiere of the film at our office, and I invited Walter and Bo to address the audience.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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
The second season of “Ted Lasso” will première on July 23rd.
From The New Yorker ● Jul. 15, 2021
Notwithstanding the conservatism of the opera business, many top houses offer a world première every season or two.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 30, 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
I spoke with Heidecker between the premieres of the first and second episodes; these are edited excerpts from the conversation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
“Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness” premieres at 9 p.m.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
This was an era of moviegoing when premieres were essential to a movie’s box office success, drawing substantial marketing opportunities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2026
The Cannes Film Festival wraps up today after two weeks of marathon screenings, black-tie gala premieres and beach parties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
By the second half of the twentieth century this was certainly not the case for premieres of new operas or symphonies.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
I’ll just trust you to catch up on the whole thing so that you can watch the final season, which premières in January.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 11, 2018
Now CBS has jumped into the ring: “The Good Fight,” which premières Sunday, transports viewers back to May, 2016, when “The Good Wife” was still on the air.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 18, 2017
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
"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
Campbell appeared on the family's reality programmes multiple times since they were first brought into the spotlight with Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which premiered in 2007.
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
That August, the film premiered in lower Manhattan in New York.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
She recently returned to the spotlight with a starring role in the Prime Video series “Every Year After,” which premiered on June 10 and marked the actress’ first major project since 2022.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
The series had just premiered its seventh episode in a packed theater, during which she wore a long red gown.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
On October 5, the first James Bond movie premiered in London.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
The same is true of the deal’s union opponents in Hollywood who worry the merger could result in fewer of their films premiering on the big screen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
Signatories included French superstar Juliette Binoche as well as director Arthur Harari, who co-wrote the Oscar-winning "Anatomy of a Fall" in 2023 and is premiering his film "The Unknown" in the main competition in Cannes.
From Barron's ● May 17, 2026
Hollywood star John Travolta has been surprised with an honourary Palme d'Or, the Cannes equivalent of a lifetime achievement award, while premiering his directorial debut at the film festival.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
The number of reality programs premiering across all viewing platforms has fallen by 33% since 2022 — from 1,193 in 2022 to 794 last year, according to Luminate, a media research group.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 30, 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.
