cinematic

adjective

cin·​e·​mat·​ic ˌsi-nə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce cinematic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, suggestive of, or suitable for movies or the filming of movies
cinematic principles and techniques
cinematic special effects
2
: filmed and presented as a movie
cinematic fantasies
a cinematic adaptation of a novel
cinematically
ˌsi-nə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce cinematic (audio)
adverb

Examples of cinematic in a Sentence

a director who has produced some great cinematic moments
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.
Imagine a workflow where directing a cinematic sequence is as intuitive as having a fluid conversation, allowing an independent creator to iterate, test angles and refine narratives in real time. — Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The 80s and 90s anime art direction emphasizes thick lines and simple shading, as opposed to modern standards of meticulous detail and cinematic lighting. — George Yang, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Director Walter Thompson-Hernández’s film, full of metaphors and magical realism, unfolds like a cinematic poem. — David Faris, TheWeek, 1 Sep. 2026 Captions Will be Needed is filmmaker Natalia Almada’s cinematic response to living with a rare cancer that has reconfigured her relationship to time. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinematic

Word History

Etymology

see cinema

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinematic was in 1912

Rhymes for cinematic

See All Rhymes for cinematic

Browse Nearby Words

cinematheque
cinematic
cinematically
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinematic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinematic. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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