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

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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
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.
By her mid 20s Meriwether was pitching an ahead-of-its-time TV series called Sluts—a kind of lost precursor to Girls—and the screenplay Fuckbuddies, which became the romantic comedy No Strings Attached. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 Jonathan Levine will direct the new Thunder, with Will Staples writing the screenplay. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 Snyder directed off a screenplay by Kurt Johnstad, with the filmmaker having a story-by credit. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 The screenplay is written by Nash Vazifdar, Sanchit Gupta and Priyadarshee Shrivastava. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 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

Rhymes for screenplay

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Browse Nearby Words

screen plate
screenplay
screen presence
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Cite this Entry

“Screenplay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screenplay. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

screenplay

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