# cinematic

/ˌsɪnəˈmætɪk/ (US) · /sˌɪnɪmˈætɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cinematic
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. resembling a movie

adjective · CEFR B2

having the high quality, beauty, or dramatic feeling of a professional film.

For teachers: resembling a professional motion picture in visual style, scale, or narrative impact.

- The video game has cinematic graphics that make you feel like you are in a movie.
- The director's use of wide-angle lenses and natural lighting gave the small-budget production a truly cinematic feel that impressed critics.

### 2. relating to cinema

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the world of movies or the history of film.

For teachers: pertaining to the cinema or the art of filmmaking.

- The city has a rich cinematic history with many famous filming locations.
- The museum's latest exhibition explores the cinematic techniques used during the silent film era to convey emotion without dialogue.

### 3. a game cutscene

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a short movie clip inside a video game that tells part of the story.

For teachers: a non-interactive sequence in a video game used to advance the plot or develop characters.

- I skipped the cinematic because I wanted to get straight back to the action.
- The transition from the opening cinematic to active gameplay was so seamless that players hardly noticed the shift in control.

Usage: Often used by gamers and developers to distinguish story moments from active play.

## Examples

- The sunset over the mountains was truly cinematic.
- The director used wide-angle lenses to give the small-budget drama a more cinematic feel.
- Critics noted that the novel's prose is remarkably cinematic, utilizing sharp cuts and vivid sensory details that allow the reader to visualize every scene as if watching a film.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.