screenplay

noun

screen·​play ˈskrēn-ˌplā How to pronounce screenplay (audio)
Synonyms of screenplaynext
: the script and often shooting directions of a story prepared for movie production

Synonyms of screenplay

Examples of screenplay in a Sentence

an award for best screenplay each actor will be given a copy of the screenplay to study
Recent Examples on the Web
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De Haven, who read about 10 scripts a week, produced Orion Pictures’ Hoosiers with Angelo Pizzo, who wrote the screenplay and insisted that Anspaugh, his former Indiana University classmate, direct his first feature. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 Ian Samuels will direct from a screenplay by Gillian Williams and Paul Shoulberg. Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 6 July 2026 Lisa Baker co-writes the screenplay, which is produced by Nadia Jaynes, Sean Marley and Rachel Richardson-Jones. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 3 July 2026 Its direction is stodgy and unimpressive, and its screenplay stilted and mawkish. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for screenplay

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of screenplay was in 1920

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Screenplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screenplay. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

screenplay

noun
screen·​play ˈskrēn-ˌplā How to pronounce screenplay (audio)
: the written form of a story prepared for film production

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