Theatrical

How to spell theatrical

10 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce theatrical

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does theatrical mean?

1. adjectiveRelating to the theatre, plays, or the performing of drama.
2. adjectiveExaggerated or showy in a way that draws attention, as if performing.

Theatrical in a sentence

• The company toured with a full theatrical production of the play.

• His theatrical sigh made the whole meeting pause.

• She studied lighting and costume as part of her theatrical training.

• She gave a theatrical wave goodbye that everyone in the office noticed.

Where does theatrical come from?

Language of origin: Greek

This word traces back to the Greek theatron, which literally meant 'a place for seeing' or 'a place for viewing', built on the verb theasthai, meaning 'to behold' or 'to look at'. The Romans borrowed the idea as theatrum and formed the adjective theatralis to describe anything belonging to the stage. English took the noun 'theatre' and then attached the native suffix -ical to create 'theatrical' in the late 1500s, when public playhouses were flourishing in London. Over time the sense broadened from simply 'relating to the stage' to also mean 'exaggerated or showy', as if someone were performing in real life. A useful memory aid is that the silent first vowels (the- a-) come straight from theatron, so the spelling keeps the 'theatr' core intact before the ending.

How the word is built

• theatr- (from Greek theatron: a place for viewing)
• -ical (adjective suffix)