adj
Uncommon
cinematic
sih-nuh-MA-tihk
Cinematic (adj) means relating to films, or having the visual style and quality of a professionally made movie. Example: “The drone footage looked incredibly cinematic.”
adj
1
Relating to films, or having the visual style and quality of a professionally made movie.
"The drone footage looked incredibly cinematic."
"The director gave the show a cinematic feel with sweeping wide shots."
noun
1
A short, pre-rendered scene in a video game used to advance the story, distinct from actual gameplay.
"The game's opening cinematic set up the entire plot."
How to use cinematic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking or feeling like something from a big-budget movie, or (in gaming) a movie-like story sequence.
Common pairings
cinematic quality
cinematic trailer
skip the cinematic
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Word forms
- Plural
- cinematics
- Comparative
- more cinematic
- Superlative
- most cinematic
Fill the gap
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The drone footage looked incredibly _____.
Etymology
From cinema + the adjective suffix -tic.
Synonyms
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filmic
movie-like
Related words
Rhymes for cinematic
See all rhymes for cinematic →Frequently asked questions
What does “cinematic” mean?
The word “cinematic” means relating to films, or having the visual style and quality of a professionally made movie. In plain terms, looking or feeling like something from a big-budget movie, or (in gaming) a movie-like story sequence.
How do you pronounce “cinematic”?
“Cinematic” is pronounced sih-nuh-MA-tihk (/sɪnəˈmætɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “cinematic” in a sentence?
Here is “cinematic” used in a sentence: “The drone footage looked incredibly cinematic.”
What part of speech is “cinematic”?
Depending on how it is used, “cinematic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “cinematic” a common word?
“Cinematic” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cinematic” have?
“Cinematic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to films, or having the visual style and quality of a professionally made movie.
What does it mean to describe something as "cinematic"?
Describing something as cinematic means it relates to films or has the visual style and quality typical of a professionally made movie, such as dramatic lighting, composition, or pacing. It's often used to praise real-life scenes or footage that looks like it belongs in a film.
What is a "cinematic" in a video game?
In video games, a cinematic is a short, pre-rendered scene used to advance the story, distinct from actual gameplay since the player typically can't control the action during it. Cinematics deliver narrative moments between or during interactive segments.
What is the difference between "cinematic" and "cinematographic"?
"Cinematic" broadly describes anything relating to films or having a movie-like visual quality, while "cinematographic" refers more narrowly to the technical art of camera work used in filmmaking. Cinematic is the more general, commonly used term.
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