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theater Meaning & Definition

/ˈθi(ə)tɚ/

What Does Theater Mean?

As a noun, theater means A place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on. It can also mean A region where a particular action takes place; a specific field of action, usually with reference to war.

Word Facts for Theater

Part of speechnoun
Pronunciation//ˈθi(ə)tɚ//
Syllables1
Synonymshouse, dramaturgy and theatre
Pluraltheaters

Theater Definition (Noun)

  1. A place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on.
  2. A region where a particular action takes place; a specific field of action, usually with reference to war.

    His grandfather was in the Pacific theater during the war.

  3. A lecture theatre.
  4. An operating theatre or locale for human experimentation.

    This man is about to die, get him into theater at once!

  5. A cinema.

    We sat in the back row of the theater and threw popcorn at the screen.

  6. Drama or performance as a profession or art form.

    I worked in theater for twenty-five years.

  7. Any place rising by steps like the seats of a theater.
  8. A conspicuous but unproductive display of action.

    The Senate confirmation hearings were just theater.

Synonyms of Theater

Theater synonyms and antonyms →

Antonyms of Theater

No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.

Theater in a Sentence

His grandfather was in the Pacific theater during the war.

This man is about to die, get him into theater at once!

We sat in the back row of the theater and threw popcorn at the screen.

I worked in theater for twenty-five years.

The Senate confirmation hearings were just theater.

security theater; hygiene theater

Word Forms & Grammar

theater (countable and uncountable, plural theaters)

Words That Rhyme With Theater

Origin of Theater

Inherited from Middle English theater, theatre, from Old French theatre, from Latin theātrum, from Ancient Greek θέᾱτρον (théātron, “a place for viewing”), from θεᾰ́ομαι (theắomai, “to see", "to watch", "to observe”). Doublet of tiatr.

How Do You Say Theater?

Theater is pronounced //ˈθi(ə)tɚ// and has 1 syllable.

Common Questions About Theater

What part of speech is theater?

Theater is a noun.

What is another word for theater?

Close synonyms of theater are house, dramaturgy and theatre. See the full list of theater synonyms and antonyms.

What is the plural of theater?

The plural of theater is theaters.

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