dramatic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
sudden, exciting, and easy to notice.
striking in appearance or effect; characterized by a sudden and significant change.
Simple“There has been a dramatic increase in the price of food this year.”
In context“The landscape underwent a dramatic transformation following the volcanic eruption, with once-lush valleys buried under meters of grey ash.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
relating to plays, acting, or the theatre.
pertaining to the drama or the performance of plays.
Simple“She decided to join the local dramatic society to improve her acting.”
In context“The university's dramatic arts department is renowned for its experimental productions of classical Greek tragedies.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
behaving in a way that makes things seem more exciting or serious than they really are.
tending to react with exaggerated emotion or theatricality, often to gain attention.
Simple“Stop being so dramatic; it is just a small scratch on the car.”
In context“He has a tendency to be quite dramatic when things go wrong, often acting as if a minor inconvenience were a total catastrophe.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
having a powerful and expressive voice, especially in opera.
possessing a powerful, rich, and expressive singing voice suitable for intense operatic roles.
Simple“The opera house is looking for a dramatic soprano for their new show.”
In context“The role requires a dramatic tenor capable of projecting over a full Wagnerian orchestra without losing tonal clarity.”
Usage dramatic eclipse · dramatic effect · dramatic challenge
“The Sun disappeared almost entirely behind the Moon, in what was the most dramatic solar eclipse visible from the UK since August 1999.”
“The UK and Europe have enjoyed their most dramatic solar eclipse for nearly 30 years, with millions thought to have witnessed the once-in-a-generation event.”
From Ancient Greek δραματικός (dramatikós), from δρᾶμα (drâma, “drama, play”), from δράω (dráō, “I do, accomplish”). By surface analysis, drama + -tic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.