surrealism
gb/sɚˈiəlˌɪzəm/ us/sɚˈiəlˌɪzəm/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
technical
C1
abstract
1
20th-century art and literature movement
a modern art and writing movement with dreamlike, strange images
Usage pattern:
[Surrealism] in [art/literature/film]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use surrealism when they mean the adjective surreal (e.g., 'a surreal moment').
Synonyms
surrealist movement (Same idea, stated more explicitly.)
|
avant-garde movement (Broader term for experimental art; not limited to Surrealism.)
Antonyms
realism (Art that aims to depict life as it is, without dreamlike distortion.)
|
naturalism (A strongly reality-focused style, often emphasizing accurate detail.)
Collocations
French Surrealism
|the Surrealism movement
|a Surrealism exhibition
|the history of Surrealism
|Surrealism in art
|Surrealism in literature
|Surrealism and Dada
|a Surrealist manifesto
|Surrealist imagery
|Surrealist painters
Themes
art
|literature
|history
|culture
Examples
- Surrealism emerged in Paris after World War I and influenced painting, poetry, and film.
- The course covers Surrealism alongside other modernist movements.
- Dalí and Magritte are often discussed in relation to Surrealism’s obsession with dreams.
Learner examples
- Surrealism is a famous art movement.
- Surrealism uses dreamlike images.
Noun
B2
property
2
Dreamlike, strange style or quality
a strange, dreamlike feeling or style
Usage pattern:
the surrealism of [something]
Common mistake:
Surrealism (noun) is sometimes confused with surreal (adjective) and used in the wrong grammar (e.g., 'it was surrealism').
Synonyms
dreamlike quality (Focuses on the dream aspect, not necessarily an art style.)
|
absurdity (Emphasizes illogic or nonsense; less about imagery and atmosphere.)
|
uncanniness (Stresses an eerie, unsettling strangeness.)
Antonyms
realism (A style or feeling that aims for ordinary, believable reality.)
|
plainness (Lack of strangeness or imaginative distortion.)
Collocations
a sense of surrealism
|a touch of surrealism
|dreamlike surrealism
|dark surrealism
|comic surrealism
|the surrealism of the scene
|inject surrealism into [something]
|surrealism in film
|surrealism in advertising
|moments of surrealism
Themes
art
|media
|emotions
|daily_life
Examples
- The director adds touches of surrealism to make the city feel unreal.
- There’s a quiet surrealism in the way the characters speak past each other.
- Waking up in an empty airport had a surrealism that was hard to describe.
Learner examples
- The movie has surrealism.
- The scene’s surrealism feels like a dream.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
3
Surrealist artworks as a whole
surrealist artworks taken together
Usage pattern:
[Surrealism] at/in [museum/collection/exhibition]
Synonyms
surrealist art (More direct and common; emphasizes visual art.)
|
surrealist works (Neutral term that can include writing as well as art.)
Antonyms
realist art (Artworks that prioritize accurate representation of everyday reality.)
Collocations
masterpieces of Surrealism
|a collection of Surrealism
|Surrealism at the museum
|an exhibition of Surrealism
|examples of Surrealism
|Surrealism in the gallery
|the best of Surrealism
|Surrealism from the 1930s
Themes
art
|museums
|culture
Examples
- The museum’s new wing is dedicated to Surrealism.
- Her research focuses on Surrealism in interwar Europe.
- The auction included several major pieces of Surrealism.
Learner examples
- We saw Surrealism at the museum.
Grammar
Dictionary form
surrealism
IPA
GB/sɚˈiəlˌɪzəm/
US/sɚˈiəlˌɪzəm/
Syllables & stress
sur - real - ism (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: surrealism
- Plural: surrealism
Expressions
a touch of surrealism
1/ə tˈʌt͡ʃ əv sɚˈiəlˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
Small amount of dreamlike strangeness
a little bit of strange, dreamlike style
Examples
- The ad uses a touch of surrealism to make the product memorable.
- She decorated the room with a touch of surrealism—floating shelves shaped like clouds.
- The novel is mostly realistic, with a touch of surrealism near the end.