noun
Uncommon
mime
mym
Mime (noun) means the art of acting out a story or feeling through gesture and movement, without speaking. Example: “The street performer entertained the crowd with mime.”
noun
1
The art of acting out a story or feeling through gesture and movement, without speaking.
"The street performer entertained the crowd with mime."
2
A performer who acts silently, using only body language and expression.
"A mime in white face paint pretended to be trapped in a glass box."
verb
1
To act out words or actions using only gestures, without speaking.
"He mimed drinking a cup of tea to explain what he wanted."
"The children mimed the story while the teacher read it aloud."
How to use mime
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishActing something out silently using movement and expression instead of words.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mime artist
act out in mime
mime a word
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Word forms
- Plural
- mimes
- Third person singular
- mimes
- Past tense
- mimed
Fill the gap
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The street performer entertained the crowd with _____.
Etymology
From Latin mimus and ultimately Greek mîmos ("imitator, actor"), re-borrowed into English through French mime.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for mime
See all rhymes for mime →Frequently asked questions
What does “mime” mean?
The word “mime” means the art of acting out a story or feeling through gesture and movement, without speaking. In plain terms, acting something out silently using movement and expression instead of words.
How do you pronounce “mime”?
“Mime” is pronounced mym (/maɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “mime” in a sentence?
Here is “mime” used in a sentence: “The street performer entertained the crowd with mime.”
What part of speech is “mime”?
Depending on how it is used, “mime” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “mime” come from?
The word “mime” comes from Latin. From Latin mimus and ultimately Greek mîmos ("imitator, actor"), re-borrowed into English through French mime.
Is “mime” a common word?
“Mime” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mime” have?
“Mime” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the art of acting out a story or feeling through gesture and movement, without speaking.
