English Reference
noun · verb

script

n. · v.
US /ˈskɹɪpt/ UK /skɹˈɪpt/ script UK spelling script's, script's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Theatre

    n.the written words for a play, movie, or television show that the actors speak.

    n.the written text of a play, film, or broadcast, including dialogue and stage directions.

    Simple

    The actors spent the whole morning reading through the new script for the first time.

    In context

    The director insisted on several last-minute revisions to the script to ensure the protagonist's motivations remained clear to the audience.

    screenplaytextlibretto
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Linguistics

    n.a particular style of writing by hand, or characters that look like handwriting.

    n.a style of handwriting or a system of writing characters; also refers to typefaces that imitate cursive handwriting.

    Simple

    The ancient document was written in a beautiful, flowing script that was hard to read.

    In context

    Scholars spent decades deciphering the unique script used by the civilization, which combined both phonetic and logographic elements.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    n.a small computer program that performs a specific task automatically.

    n.a set of instructions or a small program written for a specific environment to automate tasks.

    Simple

    I wrote a simple script to rename all the photos in the folder at once.

    In context

    The system administrator executed a maintenance script to clear the temporary cache and optimize the database performance overnight.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Informal Medicine

    n.a short way of saying a doctor's prescription for medicine.

    n.an informal clipping of 'prescription', referring to the written authorization for a patient to purchase medicine.

    Simple

    The doctor wrote me a script for some antibiotics to help with my cough.

    In context

    After the consultation, the pharmacist confirmed they had the necessary medication in stock to fill the script immediately.

    Teacher's tip

    This is very common in spoken English, especially in the US and Australia, but should be avoided in formal medical reports.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Academic Psychology

    n.a set of expected actions or words for a specific social situation.

    n.a mental or social framework containing a sequence of expected behaviors for a given situation.

    Simple

    He felt like he was following a script during the job interview because he had practiced so much.

    In context

    Social psychologists study how individuals deviate from the traditional cultural script during high-stress interpersonal interactions.

  6. 06 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to write the text for a movie, play, or speech.

    v.to write the dialogue and instructions for a performance or broadcast.

    Simple

    The comedian scripts all of his own jokes rather than hiring a writer.

    In context

    The documentary was carefully scripted to ensure that the complex scientific concepts were accessible to a general audience.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated