Movie: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used in everyday conversation and informal settings. It refers to a film that is shown in a theater or on television.

• Let's watch a movie tonight
• I saw a great movie over the weekend

Often used in more formal or professional settings, or by critics. It can also be used to describe the physical medium on which movies were traditionally recorded.

• The film received several awards
• They are filming a new documentary

A formal term, often used in legal, academic, or historical contexts.

• The motion picture industry has evolved significantly
• The first motion picture was created in the late 19th century

Refers to the place where movies are shown. It is also used in British English to refer to movies in general.

• I'm going to the cinema
• The cinema down the street is showing an old classic

An older or more nostalgic term for a movie, sometimes used in Hollywood or in artistic contexts.

• He's working on a new picture
• The picture won several Academy Awards

Commonly used in everyday conversation in American English to refer to a film or motion picture. Informal and casual.

• Let's go see a movie tonight.
• That was the best movie I've seen all year.

Used in both British and American English; often implies a more artistic, serious, or historical perspective. Suitable for formal discussion.

• The film was awarded three Oscars.
• I studied film in college.

A very formal and old-fashioned term, more common in historical contexts or formal writing.

• The history of the motion picture industry is fascinating.
• This motion picture has been preserved in the national archives.

Typically used in British English; refers to both the place where films are shown and the films themselves. Formal and casual.

• We can meet at the cinema at 7 PM.
• Cinema has evolved a lot over the last few decades.

An old-fashioned term for film or movie, often used in the early 20th century. Can sound dated in modern usage.

• That was a great picture we saw last night.
• The picture is set during the Great Depression.