name
Common
Hollywood
HO-lee-wuud
Hollywood (name) means a neighbourhood of Los Angeles that has become world-famous as the centre of the American film industry. Example: “Tourists flock to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame.”
name
1
A neighbourhood of Los Angeles that has become world-famous as the centre of the American film industry.
"Tourists flock to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame."
2
The American film industry in general, wherever it is actually based.
"Hollywood released a string of superhero movies that summer."
"She dreamed of making it big in Hollywood."
adj
1
Resembling the glamorous, dramatic style typical of big American movies.
"The wedding had a very Hollywood ending, complete with fireworks."
How to use Hollywood
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishShorthand for the American movie business, named after the LA neighbourhood where major studios are based.
Common pairings
Hollywood movie
Hollywood star
Hollywood ending
go to Hollywood
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Word forms
- Plural
- Hollywoods
- Third person singular
- Hollywoods
- Past tense
- Hollywooded
- Comparative
- more Hollywood
- Superlative
- most Hollywood
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tourists flock to _____ to see the Walk of Fame.
Etymology
Named by real-estate developer H. J. Whitley after the holly bushes he planned to plant there; the word later came to stand for the whole US film industry.
Synonyms
View more →
Tinseltown
the film industry
the movie industry
showbiz
Rhymes for Hollywood
See all rhymes for Hollywood →Frequently asked questions
What does “Hollywood” mean?
The word “Hollywood” means a neighbourhood of Los Angeles that has become world-famous as the centre of the American film industry. In plain terms, shorthand for the American movie business, named after the LA neighbourhood where major studios are based.
How do you pronounce “Hollywood”?
“Hollywood” is pronounced HO-lee-wuud (/ˈhɑ.li.wʊd/ in IPA).
How do you use “Hollywood” in a sentence?
Here is “Hollywood” used in a sentence: “Tourists flock to Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame.”
What part of speech is “Hollywood”?
Depending on how it is used, “Hollywood” can be a name and an adjective.
Is “Hollywood” a common word?
“Hollywood” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Hollywood” have?
“Hollywood” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a neighbourhood of Los Angeles that has become world-famous as the centre of the American film industry.
Where is Hollywood?
Hollywood is a district in the northwest of Los Angeles, California, in the United States. Once a separate community, it merged with Los Angeles in the early twentieth century. Today it is known worldwide less as a place to live than as the symbolic home of American cinema.
Why is Hollywood famous?
Hollywood became the centre of the American film industry in the early 1900s, when filmmakers settled there for its sunny climate and varied scenery. Over time its name became shorthand for the entire movie business — its studios, stars, and glamour. Landmarks like the Hollywood Sign reinforce that fame.
Does "Hollywood" mean the film industry itself?
Often, yes. Beyond the physical neighbourhood, Hollywood is used as a nickname for the American film industry as a whole — "a Hollywood blockbuster" or "breaking into Hollywood." In that sense it refers to the studios, culture, and business of mainstream American moviemaking rather than a specific location.
What is the Hollywood Sign?
The Hollywood Sign is a giant landmark spelling out "HOLLYWOOD" in white letters on a hillside above Los Angeles. Put up in 1923, it originally read "Hollywoodland" to advertise a housing development. It later became a world-famous symbol of the area and the film industry it represents.
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