film

1 of 2

noun

ˈfilm How to pronounce film (audio)
 Southern also  ˈfi(ə)m
plural films
often attributive
1
a
: a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b
: an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2
: a thin covering or coating
a film of ice
3
a
: an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b(1)
: a thin flexible transparent sheet (as of plastic) used especially as a wrapping
(2)
: a thin sheet of cellulose acetate or nitrocellulose coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs
4
a
: movie, motion picture
an award-winning film
film critics
The film will start in ten minutes.
b
: the process, art, or business of making movies
a career in film
She studied film in college.
filmless adjective

film

2 of 2

verb

filmed; filming; films

transitive verb

1
: to cover with or as if with a film
2
: to make a motion picture of or from
film a scene

intransitive verb

1
: to become covered or obscured with or as if with a film
2
: to make a motion picture
filmable adjective

Examples of film in a Sentence

Noun Have you bought any film for the camera? We haven't had the film developed yet. He's interested in making films about war. We'll start the film at 10:00. He studied film in college. the protective film over a shark's eye A film of ice covered the sidewalk. Verb Television news crew members came to film the interview. She filmed the children playing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Coming off the heels of a turbulent year in 2023 due to Hollywood’s writers’ and actors’ strikes, the Black women in the film and television industry deserved to receive their flowers for shouldering the ebbs and flows of uncertainty. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 22 Mar. 2024 In the film itself they are revealed to be Wuhan and Shanghai, but only when someone mentions those names deep into the film. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 The Ones Who Live was originally designed to be three feature-length films that Universal had signed on to distribute theatrically. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2024 The film is being screened as part of the 31st San Diego Latino Film Festival this year at 4:45 p.m. today at the AMC Mission Valley. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 She is totally transformed, totally truthful and totally heartbreaking in those films, in different and specific ways. Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 She’s assigned to video-interview film victims of industrial accidents for a TV program that promotes corporate safety. Armond White, National Review, 22 Mar. 2024 The film is also set to star Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, and Willem Dafoe. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2024 The dress — an upcycled silk piece with a painting of Jon conducting the symphony painted on the back — was a beautiful nod to the documentary film American Symphony, which both Suleika and Jon star in and which was nominated that night. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
Justin Vovk, adjunct professor of history at Redeemer University, thinks the choice to solely film the princess was intentional. Alice Li, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 Practically everyone with a cell phone was scrambling to film video of her at a farm shop, or in the car with her mom — to sell for upwards of $250,000. Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 The decision to film in that spot was perhaps particularly poignant for the Princess—behind her, trees could be seen in bloom and there appeared to be a field of daffodils. Harriet Johnston, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2024 If plaintiff, as Ms. [Williams’] guardian, was so worried about Ms. [Williams] being filmed in a sensitive state, [Morrissey] had months and months to seek a remedy, intervene in filming, or voice her concerns to defendants, Ms. [Williams] or/or her family. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2024 Production of this documentary began in 2017 and, after a pause in filming during the pandemic years, was completed in summer of 2023. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Mar. 2024 Located on East 8th Street, Arnold's was built in the late 1830s and its architecture served as a backdrop for a meeting. Court Street Much of the movie was filmed on Court Street in downtown Cincinnati. Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024 Studios often rely on pre-recorded tracks when filming musical numbers, which requires performers to lip-synch along on set. Zack Sharf, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Aside from a couple first look photos, sneak peeks at Wicked were minimal before filming wrapped earlier this year. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 21 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'film.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English filme, from Old English filmen; akin to Greek pelma sole of the foot, Old English fell skin — more at fell

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of film was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near film

Cite this Entry

“Film.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/film. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

film

1 of 2 noun
1
: a thin skin or membrane
2
: a thin coating or layer
3
: a roll or strip of thin flexible transparent material coated with a chemical substance sensitive to light and used in taking pictures
4

film

2 of 2 verb
1
: to cover or become covered with film
2
: to make a motion picture of or from

Medical Definition

film

noun
1
a
: a thin skin or membranous covering : pellicle
b
: an abnormal growth on or in the eye
2
a
: an exceedingly thin layer : lamina
b
: a thin flexible transparent sheet of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate coated with a radiation-sensitive emulsion for taking photographs or making radiographs

More from Merriam-Webster on film

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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