big-screen

1 of 2

adjective

1
: relating to movies or to the movie industry
She worked on the novel's big-screen adaptation.
Big-screen villains that resemble America's real-world enemies are as old as the movies themselves.Vanity Fair
2
: having a large screen
a big-screen television
And in my experience testing big-screen phones …, it really is far more difficult to do anything on them one-handed, including typing.John Gruber

big screen

2 of 2

noun

: the movie medium often as contrasted to television
a story adapted for the big screen

Examples of big-screen in a Sentence

Noun many actors now take roles for both television and the big screen
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Most recently, he’s been tapped to pen a big-screen adaptation of Bob the Builder for Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel, with Anthony Ramos to star and produce alongside Jennifer Lopez. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 Not every commercial property will enjoy a big-screen boost. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
Rice's book famously got a big screen adaptation in 1994, starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Kirsten Dunst. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025 Halkias, who plays Dave Louvopolis in Tires, has been racking up small and big screen credits, quickly becoming a breakout star in film and TV. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for big-screen

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1914, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of big-screen was in 1914

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Big-screen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/big-screen. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

big screen

noun
: the motion-picture medium as contrasted to television
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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