motion picture

noun

Definition of motion picturenext
as in movie
a story told by means of a series of continuously projected pictures and a sound track a popular novel that was made into a major motion picture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motion picture If anyone in Kentucky is wondering how the state’s film incentives program plays outside the Bluegrass bubble, a veteran producer working on a new motion picture in Shelbyville has an answer. — Kirby Adams, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 July 2026 When the voting went down, every savvy person in the motion picture industry had certainly seen it. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026 The coalition said in a news release the combined media company, if allowed to merge, would control nearly one-third of theatrical motion pictures and nearly one-third of basic cable programming. — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 13 July 2026 The book was recently made into a major motion picture starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for motion picture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motion picture
  1. movie
  2. moving picture
  3. film
  4. documentary
Noun
  • Apart from the Phantasm films, Bannister played a rest home administrator in Coscarelli’s 2002 horror comedy Bubba Ho-Tep, starring Evil Dead movie franchise icon Bruce Campbell.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • None of these movies are worth buying and installing a DVD player for!
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of movie
Noun
  • Musique concrète is often referred to as a moving picture for the ear, a description that feels especially pertinent given Rossetto’s longstanding interest in theater and performance.
    — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 9 June 2026
  • Or take in a moving picture show at whatever cinema may still exist in your part of the world.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 15 May 2026
Definition of moving picture
Noun
  • Tim Graef's golden retriever, River, could have been a star in the new film, but didn't make it past the application process.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • There is some hope that allowing Disney intellectual property to fuel TikTok pieces will have a halo effect for Disney’s films and programs.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of film
Noun
  • The streamer is in production on a documentary about Gilmore Girls, the beloved series that ran from 2000-07.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Eighteen of the films are world premieres repped by the usual suspects — UTA, CAA, WME, Cinetic, Gersh, Dogwoof, and Outlook — seeking the best possible buyers during a depressed documentary market.
    — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of documentary

Browse Nearby Words

motionlessness
motion picture
motion pictures
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Motion picture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motion%20picture. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on motion picture

Nglish: Translation of motion picture for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motion picture

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All