movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

1

: a recording of moving images that tells a story and that people watch on a screen or television : motion picture

watched a movie after dinner

a movie about the Civil War

an action movie

2

movies plural : a showing of a motion picture especially in a theater

went to the movies last Friday

also : a theater that shows movies

What's playing at the movies?

3

movies plural : the business of making movies : the motion-picture medium or industry

Synonyms

• film
• flick
• flicker
• motion picture
• moving picture
• picture

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies.

a career in the movies

Recent Examples on the Web

Rickard’s many references are informed by his lifelong passion for movies and television, production design, his Midwestern upbringing, and his earlier career as an unscripted TV producer. —Jessica Ritz, Architectural Digest, 2 Jan. 2025

The crooner and movie star claims several positions on a number of rankings in the U.K. this week, in what will likely be his last time appearing on the competitive tallies until next winter. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

The tech’s influence on the next generation of shows and movies may just tick up several notches in 2025. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2025

Meanwhile, Fiennes had a busy 2024 year that saw the release of his recent movies Conclave and The Return. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

moving picture

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing movie

• B movie
• home movie
• movie house

Kids Definition

movie

noun

mov·​ie ˈmü-vē 

1

: motion picture sense 1

2

a

: a story represented in motion pictures

b

pl : a showing of a movie

went to the movies yesterday

3

plural : the business of making movies : the motion-picture industry