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noun

pantomime

PAN-tuh-muh-ihm

Pantomime (noun) means the act of telling a story or communicating through gesture and expression alone, without speaking. Example: “The mime performed an entire pantomime of getting stuck in an invisible box.”

noun
1
The act of telling a story or communicating through gesture and expression alone, without speaking.
"The mime performed an entire pantomime of getting stuck in an invisible box."
2
A British Christmas theatrical show for families, featuring comedy, music, and audience participation.
"Every December, the local theatre puts on a pantomime for the whole family."
verb
1
To act something out using only gestures, without speaking.
"She pantomimed drinking a cup of tea to explain what she wanted."

How to use pantomime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSilent storytelling through gesture, or (in the UK) a festive family stage show.

UK vs US

The "Christmas show" sense is a distinctly British tradition, often shortened to "panto."

Word forms

pantomimed past tense, pantomimes plural, pantomimes singular

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Test yourself on “pantomime” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The mime performed an entire _____ of getting stuck in an invisible box.

Etymology

From Latin pantomimus, from Greek pantómimos ("imitator of all"), from pas ("all") + mimeomai ("to mimic").

Origin: Latin

mime dumb show

Related words

Rhymes for pantomime

See all rhymes for pantomime →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pantomime” mean?

The word “pantomime” means the act of telling a story or communicating through gesture and expression alone, without speaking. In plain terms, silent storytelling through gesture, or (in the UK) a festive family stage show.

How do you pronounce “pantomime”?

“Pantomime” is pronounced PAN-tuh-muh-ihm (/ˈpæn.təˌmaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “pantomime” in a sentence?

Here is “pantomime” used in a sentence: “The mime performed an entire pantomime of getting stuck in an invisible box.”

What part of speech is “pantomime”?

Depending on how it is used, “pantomime” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “pantomime” come from?

The word “pantomime” comes from Latin. From Latin pantomimus, from Greek pantómimos ("imitator of all"), from pas ("all") + mimeomai ("to mimic").

How many meanings does “pantomime” have?

“Pantomime” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of telling a story or communicating through gesture and expression alone, without speaking.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial