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
• documentary

Examples of movie in a Sentence

He wants to work in the movies.

a career in the movies

Recent Examples on the Web

The most iconic fashion movies offer not only aesthetic inspiration, but a cultural mirror. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2025

Kohl’s is all that’s left above ground other than for the West Dundee Cinemark movie theater, which remains in business. —Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2025

Lady Gaga at the 2010 Grammys, Cate Blanchett at the 2014 Oscars, and Zendaya at a movie premiere. —Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025

Related Stories Farrelly thinks that kind of oppressive political correctness is fading and that audiences are eager to see movies that eviscerate good taste in order to land a joke again. —Brent Lang, Variety, 5 Sep. 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

Rhymes for movie

• groovy

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