off-screen
adverb or adjective
variants
or offscreen
1
: out of sight of the movie or television viewer
a shot fired off-screen
Before long, Anthony introduces himself to the family pooch, who is whooshed away to an off-screen death.—
Kris Turnquist
Kris Turnquist2
: in private life : when not appearing in a movie, on television, etc.
Moyer's off-screen magnetism comes from a down-to-earth friendliness.—Kate Hahn
Kate HahnPfeiffer, 34, remains a mystery woman offscreen.—Michael A. Lipton
Michael A. LiptonExamples of off-screen in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Before the release of the Disney+ reboot, rumors spread of a first draft of the series that saw the deaths of Elden Henson’s Foggy Nelson and Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page happen off-screen.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 7 May 2025
Yet there’s a bittersweet tinge to this more communal but somewhat regimented form of domestication to accompany Cassian’s genuine physical pain over a blaster injury, sustained on some off-screen mission in the past year.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 7 May 2025
The characters' personal lives are complicated, but what about the actors' off-screen?
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 6 May 2025
The Grammy winner looked off-screen before quickly putting her gloved hands over her face in shock.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
Now, some of those connections are bringing a bit of controversy off-screen.
—Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
While his character in Abbott Elementary may revel in quirky antics and conspiracies, Davis’ off-screen approach to the craft is rooted in intention and resilience.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Apr. 2025
Early action scenes are told in strangely oblique ways, with gunfire erupting off-screen (but little carnage shown) or else via abrupt cuts, filled in later by ultra-violent flashbacks.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
The lion’s share of Han and Leia’s multi-decade relationship took place off-screen.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
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Jack Dunn, Variety, 7 May 2025
Yet there’s a bittersweet tinge to this more communal but somewhat regimented form of domestication to accompany Cassian’s genuine physical pain over a blaster injury, sustained on some off-screen mission in the past year.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 7 May 2025
The characters' personal lives are complicated, but what about the actors' off-screen?
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 6 May 2025
The Grammy winner looked off-screen before quickly putting her gloved hands over her face in shock.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2025
Now, some of those connections are bringing a bit of controversy off-screen.
—Cyndy Etler, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2025
While his character in Abbott Elementary may revel in quirky antics and conspiracies, Davis’ off-screen approach to the craft is rooted in intention and resilience.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 24 Apr. 2025
Early action scenes are told in strangely oblique ways, with gunfire erupting off-screen (but little carnage shown) or else via abrupt cuts, filled in later by ultra-violent flashbacks.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
The lion’s share of Han and Leia’s multi-decade relationship took place off-screen.
—Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Off-screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-screen. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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