theater
noun
the·ater
| \ ˈthē-ə-tər
, ˈthēə-, usually in Southern ˈthē-ˌā- also thē-ˈā-
\
, ˈthēə-, usually in Southern ˈthē-ˌā- also thē-ˈā-
\
variants:
or theatre
Definition of theater
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a building or area for dramatic performances
b
: a building or area for showing motion pictures
c
: an outdoor structure for dramatic performances or spectacles in ancient Greece and Rome
3
: a place or sphere of enactment of usually significant events or action
the theater of public life
4a
: a place rising by steps or gradations
a woody theater of stateliest view— John Milton
b
: a room often with rising tiers of seats for assemblies (as for lectures or surgical demonstrations)
5a
: dramatic or theatrical quality or effectiveness
c
: entertainment in the form of a dramatic or diverting situation or series of events
their public feud made for good theater
theater
adjectiveDefinition of theater (Entry 2 of 2)
: of, relating to, or appropriate for use in a theater of operations
theater nuclear weapons
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Examples of theater in a Sentence
Noun
the oldest theater in the city the theater district in New York City The film is now showing in theaters. We enjoyed a weekend of music, dance, and theater. He was very fond of the theater and had purchased tickets for several performances. Her interests include theater and poetry. the theater of 16th-century England She majored in theater in college. a course in American theater His monologues made for good theater.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
His son, actor and theater director Stanislas Nordey, said the cause was renal failure. — Daniel E. Slotnik, BostonGlobe.com, "Jean-Pierre Mocky, 90, iconoclastic French film director," 17 Aug. 2019 The trend has designers rethinking the graphic look of theater shows. — Los Angeles Times, "Newsletter: Essential Arts: Plácido Domingo accused of harassment. What did the opera world see?," 17 Aug. 2019 For example, the company’s Watermark University program taps residents to teach classes on diverse subjects such as fly fishing or being a theater critic. — Katherine Feser, Houston Chronicle, "Hines partnerships start senior living projects in Heights, River Oaks areas," 16 Aug. 2019 Smaller-theater experiences of the attraction continue. — Dewayne Bevil, orlandosentinel.com, "Holy Land Experience unveils ‘David: The King of Jerusalem’ show," 16 Aug. 2019 That’s because these aren’t just any old musical theater students. — Zachary Lewis, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Orchestra taking BW students on trip of a lifetime with ‘South Pacific’," 15 Aug. 2019 Getting special attention at this year’s festival will be Detroit’s Fearless Tribe of Fanatic Filmmakers, a group of 25 indie filmmakers devoted to filming more stories about people of color and showing those films in settings other than theaters. — Greg Crawford, Detroit Free Press, "The weekend: Dream Cruise, Renaissance fest in Holly, Michigan Comic Convention at Cobo," 14 Aug. 2019 Write a play, form a theater company, design clothes, write fiction unencumbered by other people’s expectations. — Danielle Jackson, Longreads, "Toni Morrison, 1931-2019," 14 Aug. 2019 The new movie ads are available in the US and UK through partnerships with theater chains AMC Theaters and Regal Cinemas. — Dami Lee, The Verge, "Facebook movie ads will now include ticket and showtime details," 14 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'theater.' 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 theater
theater
noun
English Language Learners Definition of theater
: a building where plays, shows, etc., are performed on a stage
US
: a building or room in which movies are shown
: plays in general or as a form of entertainment
See the full definition for theater in the English Language Learners Dictionary
theater
noun
the·ater
variants:
or theatre \ ˈthē-ə-tər \
Kids Definition of theater
1
: a building in which plays, motion pictures, or shows are presented
2
: the art or profession of producing plays
3
: plays or the performance of plays
4
: a place or area where some important action is carried on
a theater of war
theater
noun
the·ater
variants:
or theatre \ ˈthē-ət-ər
\
\
Medical Definition of theater
1
: a room often with rising tiers of seats for assemblies (as for l