theatrical
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the theater or dramatic presentations.
theatrical performances.
-
suggestive of the theater or of acting; artificial, pompous, spectacular, or extravagantly histrionic.
a theatrical display of grief.
- Synonyms:
- extravagant, stagy, melodramatic, exaggerated
noun
-
theatricals,
-
dramatic performances, now especially as given by amateurs.
-
artificial or histrionic actions.
-
-
a professional actor.
a family of renowned theatricals.
adjective
-
of or relating to the theatre or dramatic performances
-
exaggerated and affected in manner or behaviour; histrionic
Other Word Forms
-
overtheatricalnessnoun
-
theatricalitynoun
-
theatricalnessnoun
-
half-theatricaladjective
-
nontheatricadjective
-
nontheatricaladjective
-
overtheatricaladjective
-
quasi-theatricaladjective
-
semitheatricadjective
-
semitheatricaladjective
-
untheatricadjective
-
untheatricaladjective
-
nontheatricallyadverb
-
overtheatricallyadverb
-
quasi-theatricallyadverb
-
semitheatricallyadverb
-
theatricallyadverb
-
untheatricallyadverb
Etymology
Origin of theatrical
1550–60; < Late Latin theātric ( us ) < Greek theātrikós, equivalent to theā́tr ( on ) theater + -ikos -ic + -al 1
Explanation
If something happens on a stage, you can describe it as theatrical. Even reading a grocery list out loud can be theatrical, if you do it in dramatic voice with an audience watching. An actor who works on Broadway rather than in Hollywood is theatrical, and a play can be described as a theatrical production. If it happens in a theater, or is related to theater, it's theatrical. You can also use the adjective theatrical to talk about behavior that seems like it belongs on a stage, like a little boy's melodramatic weeping when he discovers a cheese sandwich in his lunch instead of peanut butter and jelly.
Vocabulary lists containing theatrical
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.
I’ve learned which things are worth making myself, which are better left to professionals and how much pleasure a few slightly theatrical details can bring to an otherwise ordinary meal.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
Netflix’s strategy of mainly releasing movies on its platform instead of doing large theatrical windows also was a turnoff for some talent who wanted to see their work on the big screen, some sources said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026
The film will have value to Warner Bros. — and Skydance, the newly- combined company that now owns it — beyond its theatrical reception.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
With a theatrical flourish, Vance descended from the steps of Air Force Two, the vice presidential jet, and received a rapturous reception as he entered the event in a flag-draped airport hangar.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
Julian’s eyes widened with childish, theatrical surprise; not for the first time, I thought how much he was like Henry, that same strange mixture of chill and warmth.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
