theater
gb/θˈiətɚ/ us/θˈiətɚ/
A1
English
~ 2700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Building for stage shows
A place where people go to watch plays or other live shows.
Usage pattern:
to go to [theater]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'theater' with 'cinema' when referring to film screenings; in American English, 'movie theater' is used for films.
Synonyms
playhouse (A smaller or more intimate theater, often used in British English.)
|
auditorium (A general term for a large space for audiences, not limited to plays.)
Antonyms
cinema (A place for watching films rather than live performances.)
Collocations
go to the theater
|theater ticket
|local theater
|community theater
Themes
arts
|entertainment
|places
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Examples
- We bought tickets to the theater to see the new play.
- The city is building a new theater downtown.
- She has performed in theaters all over the country.
Learner examples
- We went to the theater last night.
- The theater is near my house.
- I like to watch plays at the theater.
Noun
A1
entity
2
Building for watching movies
A place where people go to watch movies.
Usage pattern:
to see a movie at [theater]
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'theatre' (British spelling) for movies without noting that in British English it usually refers to live performance unless specified as 'cinema'.
Synonyms
cinema (Commonly used in British English for a movie theater.)
Antonyms
home viewing (Watching movies at home instead of in a theater.)
Collocations
movie theater
|multiplex theater
|theater chain
Themes
entertainment
|media
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Examples
- They met outside the movie theater before the show started.
- The new theater has ten screens and luxury seats.
- We rarely go to the theater; we prefer streaming movies.
Learner examples
- I saw the film at the theater.
- The theater was full of people.
- We will meet at the theater.
Noun
B1
entity
3
Art of stage performance
The art of acting in and making plays.
Synonyms
drama (Refers broadly to plays and acting, sometimes including television and film.)
Antonyms
non-performance art (Forms of art that do not involve live performance.)
Collocations
study theater
|theater major
|theater company
Themes
arts
|careers
|arts_entertainment
|education
Examples
- She has a degree in theater from NYU.
- The festival celebrates experimental theater from around the world.
- He has worked in theater for over twenty years.
Learner examples
- I want to work in theater.
- She studies theater at school.
- He loves the world of theater.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
War operations area
An area where a war is happening.
Synonyms
battlefront (Refers specifically to the front lines rather than the wider area of operations.)
Antonyms
home front (The civilian areas not directly involved in fighting.)
Collocations
theater of war
|Pacific theater
|European theater
Themes
military
|geography
|politics
|law
Examples
- Troops were deployed to the European theater during World War II.
- The Pacific theater saw intense naval battles.
- Supplies were sent to all units in the theater.
Learner examples
- Many battles happened in the Pacific theater.
- He served in the European theater.
- The war had two main theaters.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
5
Hospital surgery room
A room in a hospital where doctors do surgery.
Synonyms
operating room (Commonly used term in American English for the same concept.)
Collocations
operating theater
|surgical theater
Themes
medicine
|healthcare
|health
|body
Examples
- The patient was taken to the operating theater immediately.
- Cleanliness is crucial in any surgical theater.
- She works as a nurse in the main theater.
Learner examples
- He is in the operating theater now.
- The doctor went into the operating theater.
- They cleaned the theater before surgery.
Grammar
Dictionary form
theater
IPA
GB/θˈiətɚ/
US/θˈiətɚ/
Syllables & stress
theat - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (theat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: theater
- Variant Spelling: theatre
- Plural: theater, theaters
Word family
Forms
theatre
noun A2
theaters
noun
Core family
theatrical
adjective B2
Related words
theatergoer
noun
theatrically
adverb
Advanced or less common
theatricality
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: theatre Noun
Expressions
operating theater
1/ˈɑpɚˌeɪtɪŋ θˈiətɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Hospital surgery room term
A special hospital room where doctors do surgery.
Examples
- She was rushed into the operating theater after the accident.
- Operating theaters must be kept sterile at all times.
theater of war
1/θˈiətɚ əv wˈɔɹ/
fixed phrase
technical
Region of active warfare
An area where a war is happening.
Examples
- The Pacific was a major theater of war during World War II.
- Diplomats discussed strategies for peace in each theater of war.
movie theater
1/mˈuvi θˈiətɚ/
fixed phrase
A place to watch movies
A building where people go to watch movies on a big screen.
Examples
- Let's meet at the movie theater at 7 p.m.
- We met outside the movie theater before the show started.
- This movie theater has very comfortable seats.
- The new movie theater has very comfortable seats.