theatre
Americannoun
noun
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a building designed for the performance of plays, operas, etc
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( as modifier )
a theatre ticket
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( in combination )
a theatregoer
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a large room or hall, usually with a raised platform and tiered seats for an audience, used for lectures, film shows, etc
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Also called: operating theatre. a room in a hospital or other medical centre equipped for surgical operations
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plays regarded collectively as a form of art
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the world of actors, theatrical companies, etc
the glamour of the theatre
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a setting for dramatic or important events
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writing that is suitable for dramatic presentation
a good piece of theatre
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the usual word for cinema
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a major area of military activity
the theatre of operations
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a circular or semicircular open-air building with tiers of seats
Etymology
Origin of theatre
C14: from Latin theātrum, from Greek theatron place for viewing, from theasthai to look at; related to Greek thauma miracle
Explanation
A theatre is the place where plays are performed, especially in England, because the normal American spelling of theatre is theater. If you're looking for a night of drama and astonishment, try going to the theatre. Theatre comes from the Ancient Greek theatron, which means a place for showing, or performing. Now we call the place and the stuff performed the same thing. There are theatres where other things happen than plays. A theatre of war is the area in which a war is taking place. If you're fascinated by war but don't have the nerve to be a soldier, why not make theatre about war?
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.
All the profits from the four-day theatre run are going to the Alzheimer's Society, an organisation which helped Peter after his diagnosis.
From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026
As well as Baby Reindeer, Fleabag was first performed as a theatre show before being developed by the BBC, as was Hannah Gadsby's show Nanette in 2017 before being developed by Netflix.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
John Haswell has worked in theatre for a number of years but says his role as the Rev Knox was a highlight of his career.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
The actor lights up the stage eight shows a week as Lumiere, the servant-turned-candelabra in Disney’s touring production of “Beauty and the Beast,” currently at the Hollywood Pantages theatre through Sept. 6.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
The two men made their way several blocks to the Mercury’s theatre.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
