stage direction

noun

: a description (as of a character or setting) or direction (as to indicate stage business) provided in the text of a play

Examples of stage direction in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The static figures act like a metronome, marking time between the stanzas of his sharp-witted soliloquies and dialogues; the gestures and expressions function as stage directions. Art Spiegelman, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2025 As Herod, tenor Dennis Petersen sang his role well, but the stage direction he was given, along with other decisions made by director Condemi, were disappointing. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025 The script is filled with sharp details — the descriptive stage directions are like passages from a novel. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Mar. 2025 Michaels reads the stage directions for each sketch aloud but refrains from commentary. Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stage direction

Word History

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stage direction was in 1790

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Cite this Entry

“Stage direction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stage%20direction. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

stage direction

noun
: a playwright's instruction to a director and actors
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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