# premiere

/pɹɛˈmɪɹ/ (US) · /pɹˌɛmiˈeə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/premiere
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. first public showing

noun · CEFR B2

the first time a movie, play, or musical piece is shown to an audience.

For teachers: the first public performance or exhibition of a theatrical, cinematic, or musical work.

- The actors walked the red carpet at the world premiere of their new movie.
- The director expressed immense relief after the world premiere received a standing ovation from the notoriously critical festival audience.

Usage: Often used with 'world' to indicate the very first showing globally.

### 2. TV episode

noun · CEFR B2

the first episode of a new television series or a new season.

For teachers: the initial broadcast of a television series or a specific season of a programme.

- Millions of fans tuned in for the season premiere of the popular drama.
- Network executives were delighted when the series premiere broke viewership records for the Sunday night time slot.

Usage: Commonly paired with 'season' or 'series'.

### 3. to show for the first time

verb · CEFR B2

to show a movie or play to the public for the first time.

For teachers: to present a creative work for its first public performance; can be used with or without a direct object.

- The documentary will premiere at the film festival next month.
- The studio decided to premiere the blockbuster simultaneously in theatres and on its digital streaming platform to maximise global reach.

Usage: As a verb, it functions both transitively (the studio premiered the film) and intransitively (the film premiered).

## Examples

- The actors are attending the premiere of their new movie tonight.
- Fans waited outside the theater for hours to see the stars arrive for the world premiere.
- Despite the technical glitches during the dress rehearsal, the premiere was a resounding success, earning a ten-minute standing ovation from the critics.

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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.