pantomime
noun
pan·to·mime
| \ ˈpan-tə-ˌmīm
\
\
Definition of pantomime
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: pantomimist
2a
: an ancient Roman dramatic performance featuring a solo dancer and a narrative chorus
b
: any of various dramatic or dancing performances in which a story is told by expressive bodily or facial movements of the performers
a ballet that is part dance and part pantomime
c
: a British theatrical entertainment of the Christmas season based on a nursery tale and featuring topical songs, tableaux, and dances
3a
: conveyance of a story by bodily or facial movements especially in drama or dance
b
: the art or genre of conveying a story by bodily movements only
pantomime
verb
pantomimed;
pantomiming
Definition of pantomime (Entry 2 of 2)
: to engage in pantomime
: to represent by pantomime
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Other Words from pantomime
Noun
pantomimic
\ ˌpan-tə-ˈmi-mik
\
adjective
\
adjective
Synonyms for pantomime
Synonyms: Noun
gesticulation, gesture, mime, sign, signal
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Examples of pantomime in a Sentence
Noun
In the game of charades, one player uses pantomime to represent a word or phrase that the other players have to try to guess. We saw pantomimes at the fair. a ballet that is part dance and part pantomimeVerb
He pantomimed someone talking on the phone.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
The watch-tap pantomime was meme-ready, but Swift’s words will hopefully result in real change. — Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, "The 16 Best Moments from the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards," 27 Aug. 2019 Participants enjoy the rush of living out the experience of a Freedom Rider, even if the reality of a contemporary crusade is a pantomime of justice and one’s engagement is through a smartphone and free of risk. — James Panero, WSJ, "Where’s the Mercy in ‘Social Justice’?," 23 Jan. 2019 These claims by the president and other Republican politicians at Congressional oversight hearings have become a perfect pantomime of principled outrage by everyone involved. — Noam Cohen, WIRED, "The Truth About Trump’s Love-Hate Relationship With Big Tech," 18 July 2019 The sight of Roy launching three consecutive sixes off the bowling of Australian pantomime villain Steve Smith will be played over and over again on television and on social media for years to come. — James Masters, CNN, "Australia vs. England: England ends 27-year wait to reach World Cup final," 11 July 2019 Our Founding Fathers and the Statue of Liberty must have been weeping watching all this pantomime. — Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, "Letters: Trump’s Independence Day (7/6/19)," 7 July 2019 The production skillfully incorporates some footage of the old films; shadows cast by the actors on the walls were wonderful, somehow casting a bridge between pantomime and voice, then and now. — cleveland.com, "The arts help us honor the past and envision the future: Sun Messages," 6 July 2019 The distraught scout spoke no English, and all the Army interpreters were out in the field, so Curly had to draw figures and pantomime to deliver his shocking message: Custer and all the men under his immediate command were wiped out. — Patrick Springer / Forum News Service, Twin Cities, "Along with Custer, a Pioneer Press contributor met his end 143 years ago at Battle of the Little Bighorn," 6 July 2019 Those pantomimes of concern for victims were transparently aimed at intimidating them and reducing the institution’s liability. — Lidija Haas, The New Republic, "Notes on Cancel Culture," 1 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Amid smoke and clouds of dust, spectators ran the bases and pantomimed baseball players pitching, batting and sliding. — Joe Lapointe, Detroit Free Press, "40 years ago, Disco Demolition Night stirred culture war still being fought," 12 July 2019 The practice crosses cultures; in the Dominican Republic, people pantomime the air güira, a metal percussion instrument. — April White, Smithsonian, "An Electrifying History of Air Guitar," 11 July 2019 Morgan pantomimed sipping a cup of tea - a reference to Queen Elizabeth or to the Boston Tea Party? - after her goal. — Ann Killion, SFChronicle.com, "One more game for U.S. women, who will play for World Cup title," 2 July 2019 Jim Delaney, senior operations manager at the recycling center, pantomimed a gesture that reminded me of an umpire calling a batter out on strikes, complete with leg kick. — Dave Mcintyre, Washington Post, "Does your county recycle wine bottles? The answer may surprise you," 14 June 2019 First, Wong clutches her face, knocking her red nerd glasses askew and pantomiming the feeling of a great gust of wind drying out her eyeballs. — Vogue, "Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife," 11 May 2018 Thompson heard the team will be assigned an interpretor, but she's prepared to pantomime her way through the trip. — Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, "The Seawolves had to make a lot of pot pies to pay their way to a basketball tournament in Taiwan," 28 June 2018 Crossing hands in front of himself to indicate handcuffs, Ahmed, 24, a spiky-haired Somali, pantomimed how German authorities sent him back — not once, but twice — to Italy. — Frances D'emilio, Fox News, "Italy vows to expel far more migrants, but it won't be easy," 22 June 2018 For every new round with Paula, Plaza burns a hole into the deck with her intent gaze, only occasionally breaking her concentration to pantomime in my direction. — Nojan Aminosharei, Marie Claire, "Aubrey Plaza Was Never April Ludgate," 13 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pantomime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for pantomime
pantomime
noun
English Language Learners Definition of pantomime
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a way of expressing information or telling a story without words by using body movements and facial expressions
: a performance in which a story is told without words by using body movements and facial expressions
British
: a play for children performed during the Christmas season that is based on a fairy tale and includes singing and dancing
pantomime
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of pantomime (Entry 2 of 2)
: to make the movements of someone who is doing something without actually doing it
See the full definition for pantomime in the English Language Learners Dictionary
pantomime
noun
pan·to·mime
| \ ˈpan-tə-ˌmīm
\
\
Kids Definition of pantomime
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: the act of showing or explaining something through movements of the body and face instead of by talking