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theatrical

UK/θiːˈætɹɪkəl/US/θiˈætɹɪkəl/
adjectiveC1Common in everyday speech and writing · #5,318 of 15,258mostly written

Theatrical means to do with the stage, or exaggerated for effect. A theatrical production, a theatrical gesture, rather theatrical.

The second sense is a criticism, since calling somebody theatrical says the feeling was performed. In film, theatrical release means shown in cinemas as against straight to streaming.

Lafayette Photo, London · Public domain

Definitions of theatrical

  1. 1adjectivetheatricalTo do with the stage, or exaggerated for effect.C1

    “She gave a theatrical sigh and rolled her eyes.”

theatrical is a quality.

Where it comes from

Latin theatricus comes from Greek theatron, a place for viewing, from thea, a sight.

From theātricus + al. by surface analysis, theatre + -ical.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

theatrical in the wild

  • Theatrical scenery is that which is used as a setting for a theatrical production.

    Theatrical scenery

  • The word "burlesque" has been used in English in this literary and theatrical sense since the late 17th century.

    Burlesque

  • A prop, formally known as a theatrical property, is an object an actor uses on stage or screen during a performance or screen production.

    Prop

  • All films listed are theatrical releases and/or American-based films unless specified.

    List of Walt Disney Pictures films

  • Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in select cinemas across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets.

    Limited theatrical release

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

  • theatricality