Word
puppeteer
Phoneticspup·peteer
US/pəpəˈtiɹ/
UK/pˌʌpɪtˈiə/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who controls puppets in a show, often hiding behind a curtain or screen. You also use it for someone who secretly controls what other people do.
n. a performer who manipulates puppets in theatrical or televised performance. Extended to a person who covertly controls the actions or decisions of others.
Examples
“The puppeteer makes the doll dance and talk.”
“The puppeteer hides behind the curtain while the children laugh at the talking fox.”
“Behind the success of the candidate stood a wealthy puppeteer who funded the campaign and chose every slogan.”
Examples
simple
“The puppeteer makes the doll dance and talk.”
contextual
“The puppeteer hides behind the curtain while the children laugh at the talking fox.”
complex
“Behind the success of the candidate stood a wealthy puppeteer who funded the campaign and chose every slogan.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “puppeteer” in context.
Verb
01. hire puppeteer
“They hired a puppeteer to perform at the school festival last weekend.”
verb + noun
02. puppeteer controls
“The puppeteer controls every movement with thin wires and handles.”
noun + verb
03. puppeteer manipulates
“The puppeteer manipulates the figures while speaking all the dialogue live.”
noun + verb
04. puppeteer performs
“The puppeteer performs behind a screen so you only see the puppets.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. master puppeteer
“The master puppeteer brought the dragon to life with one hand movement.”
adj + noun
06. political puppeteer
“Critics called him a political puppeteer secretly directing the campaign.”
adj + noun
07. skilled puppeteer
“A skilled puppeteer can make the audience forget the strings completely.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. hands of puppeteer
“In the hands of the puppeteer, the old doll seemed almost alive.”
noun + prep + noun
09. puppeteer troupe
“The travelling puppeteer troupe performs in villages every summer.”
noun + noun
10. show by puppeteer
“The show by the puppeteer delighted both children and adults.”
noun + prep + noun
11. controlled by a hidden puppeteer
“Voters feared the candidate was controlled by a hidden puppeteer.”
12. pull strings like a puppeteer
“The manager pulls strings like a puppeteer to control the whole team.”
Real-World Examples
“In London, the bear is played by a duo: James Hameed provides the voice and is the remote puppeteer, while Arti Shah performs wearing the furry costume.” “The son of puppeteers and the first to perform both Yoda and Miss Piggy, Oz had individuality and scene-setting in his DNA.” “One opposition figure denounced the Rodríguez-Trump meeting as an encounter between a “shameless puppet and her unscrupulous puppeteer” .” “Puppeteer Beckett Gray and Camilla Anvar create an undersea scene.” Etymology
From puppet + -eer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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